Elucidation of molecular evolutinary mechanisms of HIV and HCV

本研究项目的主要目的是阐明HIV（人类免疫缺陷病毒）和HCV（丙型肝炎病毒）进化过程的进化机制。为此，我们进行了以下研究工作：（1）成功构建了HIV和HCV的数据库。特别是，向京都国际丙型肝炎病毒讲习班的所有与会者分发了丙型肝炎病毒数据库的光盘。此外，1997年在美国Sanata Fe举行的CDC主办的HCV命名委员会国际会议决定采用我们的HCV数据库作为正式的HCV数据库。(2)我们成功地构建了从单个患者分离的HIV克隆的系统发育树。提示这种分析方法对阐明病毒变异体的产生机制是非常有用的。(3)它还表明，病毒克隆的体内进化分析提供了一个深入了解抗病毒药物对病毒变异产生的影响。(4)我们从分子进化的角度研究了感染途径，如针刺事故和夫妻关系。特别是，通过夫妻关系感染的频率非常低。

The main purpose of this research project is to elucidate the evolutionary mechanisms of evolutionary processes of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and HCV (Hepatitis C Virus). To accomplish this purpose, we conducted the research and obtained the following results : (1) We successfully constructed the databases for HIV and HCV spearately. In particular, the CD-ROM version of the HCV database has been distributed to all participants of the international HCV workshop at Kyoto. Moreover, the international meeting of the HCV nomenclature committee hosted by CDC,which was held at Sanata Fe in the United States in 1997, decided to adopt our HCV database as an official HCV database. (2) We successfully constructed phylogenetic trees for HIV clones isolated from single patients. It suggested that this type of analysis was very useful for elucidatinig the generating mechanisms of viral variants. (3) It also showed that the analysis of intra-body evolution of viral clones gave an insight into the effect of anti-viral drugs on the generation of viral variation. (4) We examined the infection routes such as needle stick accidents and husband-and-wife relationships from the viewpoint of molecular evolution. In particular, the frequency of infection through the husband and wife relationship was found to be very low.