Comparison of HIV-1 and HIV-2 Mutagenesis by Illumina Sequencing. Human immunodeficiency virus

Human immunodeficiency virus type-2 (HIV-2) is often distinguished clinically by lower viral loads, reduced transmissibility, and longer asymptomatic periods than for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Differences in the mutation frequencies of HIV-1 and HIV-2 have been hypothesized to contribute to the attenuated progression of HIV-2 observed clinically. To address this hypothesis, we performed Illumina sequencing of multiple amplicons prepared from cells infected with HIV-1 or HIV-2 and compared the resulting mutation frequencies and spectra.