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61.0.6. Lentivirus

Table of Contents

Taxonomy

Original Source and History of Virus
Virion Properties


Morphology
Physicochemical and Physical Properties
Nucleic Acid
Proteins
Lipids
Carbohydrates

Genome Organization and Replication

Infectivity
Replication
Function of Helper and Satellite Viruses
Cytopathology

Antigenic Properties

Serological Relationships
Diagnosis

Biological Properties

Symptoms and Host Range
Transmission
Geographic Distribution
Ecology and Control
Diagnostic and Methods

Taxonomic Structure
General Comments
References
Data sources and Contributors
Related Databases
Additional Data Sources and Teaching aids

Taxonomy

Virus Code. 61.0.6. Virus Accession number 61060000.


Comments: Five serogroups of lentiviruses are recognised, reflecting the hosts with which they are associated (primates, sheep and goats, horses, cats, and cattle). The primate lentiviruses are distinguished by the use of CD4 protein as receptor and the absence of DU. Some groups have cross-reactive gag antigens (e.g., the ovine, caprine and feline lentiviruses). Antibodies to gag antigens in lions and other large felids indicate the existence of other viruses related to FIV and the ovine/caprine lentiviruses.

Virus infects vertebrates.

Description is on taxonomic level of genus. Virus belongs to the family Retroviridae (VC 61. ).

Properties of Virion

Morphology

Virions enveloped; slightly pleomorphic; spherical; 80-100 nm in diameter. Surface projections of envelope small (surface appears rough), or barely visible; spikes (of about 8nm); dispersed evenly over all the surface. Nucleocapsids (cores) isometric. Nucleoid concentric and rod-shaped, or shaped like a truncated cone.

Physicochemical an Physical Properties

Buoyant density 1.16-1.18 g cm-3 in sucrose. Virions sensitive to heat, detergents, and formaldehyde. Infectivity not affected by irradiation.

Nucleic Acid

Virions contain 2 % nucleic acid. Genome consists of a dimer. Virions contain one molecule of (each) linear positive-sense single stranded RNA.

Total genome length is of one monomer 9200 nt. Genome sequence has terminal repeated sequences; long terminal repeats (LTR) (of about 600 nt. The 5' end of the genome has a cap. Cap sequence of type 1 m7G5ppp5'GmpNp. 3' end of each monomer has a poly (A) tract; 3'-terminus has a tRNA-like structure (and accepts lysin). Encapsidated nucleic acid solely genomic. 2 copies packed per particle (held together by hydrogen bonds to form a dimer).

Proteins

Virions contain 60 % protein. Five structural virion proteins found (major). Protein size 120000 Da. Gp120 glycosylated surface envelope protein SU, encoded by the viral gene env. Protein size of 2nd largest 41000 Da. Gp41 glycosylated transmembrane envelope protein TM, also encoded by the viral gene env. Protein size of 3rd largest 24000 Da. P24 non-glycosylated capsid protein CA. Protein size of 4th largest 17000 Da. P17 non-glycosylated matrix protein MA. Protein size of 5th largest 7000-11000 Da. Non-glycosylated capsid protein NC. Proteins MA, CA and NA are all encoded by the gag gene. Virion structural proteins are glycosylated. Are the following: the envelope proteins SU and TM. Usually four non-structural proteins found, or three non-structural proteins found (in the primate lentiviruses). Protein size 66000 Da. Reverse transcriptase RT encoded by the pol gene. Protein size of 2nd largest 32000 Da. Integrase IN also encoded by the pol gene. Protein size of 3rd 14000 Da. Protease PR encoded by the pro gene. dUPTase DU, role unknown.

Lipids

Virions contain 35 % lipid.

Carbohydrates

Other compounds detected in the particles 3% carbohydrates.



Genome Organization and Replication

Features of the genome: infectious viruses have 4 main genes coding for the virion proteins in the order: 5´-gag-pro-pol-env-3´. There are additional genes depending on the virus (e.g., for HIV-1: vif, vpr, vpu, tat, rev, nef) whose products are involved in regulation of synthesis and processing virus RNA and other replicative functions. The LTR is about 600nt long, of which the U3 region is 450, the R sequence 100 and the U5 region some 70 nt long.

Genomic nucleic acid not infectious.

Antigenic Properties

Serological Relationships

Antigen determinants are type-specific and group-specific. Antigen determinants that possess type-specific reactivity are found on the envelope. Antigen determinants that possess type-specific reactivity are found on the glycoproteins. Are involved in antibody mediated neutralization. Cross-reactivity found. Cross-reactivity among some species of the same serotype, but (but not between members of different genera). Classification of members of this taxon infrequently based on their antigenic properties.

Biological Properties

Symptoms and Host Range

Host of virus belongs to the Domain Eucarya. Host of virus belongs to the Kingdom Animalia. Phylum Chordata. Subphylum Vertebrata. Class Mammalia. Order Primates, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, and Artiodactyla.

Transmission

Transmitted by means not involving a vector.

Geographic Distribution

Probably distributed world-wide.

Taxonomic Structure

Taxonomic structure of the genus.
Serogroup:
Subgroup Bovine lentivirus group (VC 61.0.6.1. ),
Subgroup Equine lentivirus group (VC 61.0.6.2. ),
Subgroup Feline lentivirus group (VC 61.0.6.3. ),
Subgroup Ovinecaprine lentivirus group (VC 61.0.6.4. ), and
Subgroup Primate lentivirus group (VC 61.0.6.5. ).
Type species: 61.0.6.5.001 human immunodeficiency virus 1.

References

The following references are cited in the ICTV Report : rf_retro.htm.

Data sources and contributors.

The above description has been compiled from the data presented in the Sixth ICTV Report by Coffin JM, Essex M, Gallo R, Graf TM, Hinuma Y, Hunter E, Jaenisch R, Nusse R, Oroszlan S, Svoboda J, Teich N, Toyoshima K, Varmus H.

Related Databases

Taxon images: em_lenti.gif gm_lenti.gif Genome map: gm_lenti.gif

The description has been generated automatically from DELTA files.

ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, developed for the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) by Dr Cornelia Büchen-Osmond, is written in DELTA. The virus descriptions in ICTVdB are coded by ICTV members and experts, or by the ICTVdB Management using data provided by the experts, the literature or the latest ICTV Report. The character list is the underlying code. All virus descriptions are based on the character list and natural language translations from the encoded descriptions are automatically generated and formatted for display on the Web.

Developer of the DELTA software: M. J. Dallwitz, T. Paine and E. Zurcher

ICTVdB and DELTA related References

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Last updated: 15 June 2004 by Cornelia Büchen-Osmond
Web Page generated from ICTVdB by the DELTA systems.

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