RecDraw: A software package for the representation of HIV-1 recombinant structures

Gustavo H. Kijak, Sodsai Tovanabutra, Chris Beyrer, Eric E. Sanders-Buell, Miguel A. Arroyo, Merlin L. Robb, Nelson L. Michael, Francine E. McCutchan, Jerome H. Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The crucial role of recombination in HIV-1 biology is being increasingly recognized. In vitro studies have shown that up to 30 strand-transfer events may occur per viral replication cycle. Thus, recombination may surpass mutation as a major mechanism driving HIV-1 evolution. Currently, recombinant strains comprise 37% of the full-genome HIV-1 sequence database, including sequences representing 47 Circulating Recombinant Forms (CRFs) and more than 250 different Unique Recombinant Forms (URFs). Mapping of recombination breakpoints helps establish relationships among strains that are related by descent, such as CRF07-BC and CRF08-BC in China, and sheds light on their origin and epidemic spread. Additionally, unrelated recombinants sharing common breakpoints may reflect recombination hotspots within the viral genome. Here we present a software tool, RecDraw, for the graphical representation and efficient comparison of recombinant HIV-1 structures and breakpoints. RecDraw is a platform-flexible, Java stand-alone application available through http://www.hivresearch.org/research.php?ServiceID = 5&SubServiceID = 6.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1317-1321
Number of pages5
JournalAIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
Volume26
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2010
Externally publishedYes

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