Phylogeny and the origin of HIV-1

A Rambaut, DL Robertson, OG Pybus, M Peeters… - Nature, 2001 - nature.com
Nature, 2001nature.com
The origin of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is controversial. We show here
that viruses obtained from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa have a quantitatively
different phylogenetic tree structure from those sampled in other parts of the world. This
indicates that the structure of HIV-1 phylogenies is the result of epidemiological processes
acting within human populations alone, and is not due to multiple cross-species
transmission initiated by oral polio vaccination.
Abstract
The origin of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is controversial. We show here that viruses obtained from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa have a quantitatively different phylogenetic tree structure from those sampled in other parts of the world. This indicates that the structure of HIV-1 phylogenies is the result of epidemiological processes acting within human populations alone, and is not due to multiple cross-species transmission initiated by oral polio vaccination.
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