LSm1-7 complexes bind to specific sites in viral RNA genomes and regulate their translation and replication.

LSm1-7 complexes promote cellular mRNA degradation, in addition to translation and replication of positive-strand RNA viruses such as the Brome mosaic virus (BMV). Yet, how LSm1-7 complexes act on their targets remains elusive. Here, we report that reconstituted recombinant LSm1-7 complexes directly bind to two distinct RNA-target sequences in the BMV genome, a tRNA-like structure at the 3'-untranslated region and two internal A-rich single-stranded regions.

Genetic characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from Beira, Mozambique.

In this report, we examined the genetic diversity of HIV-1 strains circulating in the city of Beira, the second largest metropolitan area in Mozambique. A total of 131 blood samples, collected between August and October 2003 from antiretroviral-naïve individuals, were characterized with a combined approach consisting of heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) subtyping for gag (n=74) and/or env (n=117) genes, and DNA sequence analysis of proviral env (C2V3C3, n=52), LTR (n=30) and/or pol (n=43) genomic regions. Aside from the identification, by bootscanning analysis, of a viral strain with a C/A1 mosaic C2V3C3 structure, classified as subtype A by env HMA, phylogenetic inference studies of the sequence data demonstrated the circulation of genetically diverse subtype C viruses, predominantly of the R5 type.