Phylogenetic and Mutational Analysis of the Tax Gene in the Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1 (HTLV-1) in Three Provinces of Iran
-
Bezhan Noori
,
Atefeh Bahavar
,
Zohreh Sharifi
,
Parnaz Kafialqora
,
Zahra Navi
,
Abbas Rahimi Foroushani
,
Mohammadreza Shafiei
,
Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri
,
Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani
,
Mehdi Norouzi
Abstract
Background: Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is considered a health issue in Iran. However, its genetic diversity and molecular epidemiologic phylogeny remain poorly characterized.
Methods: The Tax gene of 9 asymptomatic individuals across Alborz, Gilan, and Ardabil provinces of Iran was sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically using MEGA-X.
Results: All strains clustered within the Cosmopolitan subtype a, showing high genetic similarity to Japanese and Chinese references. Positive selection (dN/dS > 1) was observed in all samples. Strikingly, the Alborz ISO32 strain exhibited 10 unique nonsynonymous mutations, suggesting regional evolutionary divergence.
Conclusion: This study, as the first multi-provincial study in Iran, reveals the essential requirement for systematic tracking of HTLV-1 genetic diversity and designing prevention programs tailored to each region.
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14. Babakhani F, Bahavar A, Zare S, et al (2025). Phylogenetic and Mutational Analysis of the Tax Gene in the Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1-Associated HAM/TSP in Comparison with Asymptomatic Carriers. Iran J Public Health, 54(2):435-42.
15. Azarpazhooh MR, Hasanpour K, Ghanbari M, et al (2012). Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 prevalence in northeastern Iran, Sabzevar: an epidemiologic-based study and phylogenetic analysis. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses, 28(9):1095-101.
16. Pourrezaei S, Shadabi S, Gheidishahran M, et al (2021). Molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 in the tax gene and it association with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma disorders Iran J Microbiol, 13(4):509-517.
17. Fujikawa D, Nakagawa S, Hori M, et al (2016). Polycomb-dependent epigenetic landscape in adult T-cell leukemia. Blood, 127(14):1790-802.
18. Pashabayg CR, Momenifar N, Malekpour SA, et al (2020). Phylogenetic and phylodynamic study of Human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) in Iran. Infect Genet Evol, 85:104426.
19. Hall WW, Fujii M (2005). Deregulation of cell-signaling pathways in HTLV-1 infection. Oncogene, 24(39):5965-75.
20. Mueller N, Okayama A, Stuver S, et al (1996). Findings from the Miyazaki cohort study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol, 13 Suppl 1:S2-7.
21. Voevodin A, Gessain A (1997). Common origin of human T‐lymphotropic virus type‐I from Iran, Kuwait, Israel, and La Réunion Island. J Med Virol, 52(1):77-82.
22. Karimi G, Zadsar M, Pourfathollah AA, et al (2017). Seroprevalence and geographical distribution of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 among volunteer blood donors in endemic areas of Iran. Virol J, 14:14.
23. Ferdowsi S, Najafzadeh M, Ameli MR, et al (2019). Evaluating the frequency of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 infection in Iranian population. Iranian Journal of Blood and Cancer, 11(2):47-50.
24. Yasunaga J, Matsuoka M (2011). Molecular mechanisms of HTLV-1 infection and pathogenesis. Int J Hematol, 94(5):435-42.
25. Furukawa Y, Yamashita M, Usuku K, et al (2000). Phylogenetic subgroups of human t cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type in the tax gene and their association with different risks for HTLV-I—associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. J Infect Dis, 182(5):1343-9.
2. Bangham CR, Ratner L (2015). How does HTLV-1 cause adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL)? Current opinion in virology. Curr Opin Virol, 14:93-100.
3. Yamano Y, Sato T (2012). Clinical pathophysiology of human T-lymphotropic virus-type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Front Microbiol, 3:389.
4. Gessain A, Cassar O (2012). Epidemiological aspects and world distribution of HTLV-1 infection. Front Microbiol, 3:388.
5. Gessain A, Ramassamy J-L, Afonso PV, et al (2023). Geographic distribution, clinical epidemiology and genetic diversity of the human oncogenic retrovirus HTLV-1 in Africa, the world’s largest endemic area. Front Immunol, 14:1043600.
6. Verdonck K, González E, Van Dooren S, et al (2007). Human T-lymphotropic virus 1: recent knowledge about an ancient infection. Lancet Infect Dis, 7(4):266-81.
7. Millen S, Thoma-Kress AK (2022). Milk Transmission of HTLV-1 and the need for innovative prevention strategies. Front Med (Lausanne), 9:867147.
8. Paiva A, Casseb J (2014) . Sexual transmission of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop, 47(3):265-74.
9. Berini CA, Delfino C, Torres O, et al (2013). HTLV-1 cosmopolitan and HTLV-2 subtype b among pregnant women of non-endemic areas of Argentina. Sex Transm Infect, 89(4):333-5.
10. Proietti FA, Carneiro-Proietti ABF, Catalan-Soares BC, et al (2005). Global epidemiology of HTLV-I infection and associated diseases. Oncogene, 24(39):6058-68.
11. Currer R, Van Duyne R, Jaworski E, et al (2012). HTLV tax: a fascinating multifunctional co-regulator of viral and cellular pathways. Front Microbiol, 3:406.
12. Rafatpanah H, Hedayati-Moghaddam MR, Fathimoghadam F, et al (2011). High prevalence of HTLV-I infection in Mashhad, Northeast Iran: a population-based seroepidemiology survey. J Clin Virol, 52(3):172-6.
13. Safavi M, Habibian-Sezavar F, Letafati A, et al (2024). Determination of molecular epidemiologic pattern of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in Alborz province, Iran. Virus Genes, 60(2):117-25.
14. Babakhani F, Bahavar A, Zare S, et al (2025). Phylogenetic and Mutational Analysis of the Tax Gene in the Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1-Associated HAM/TSP in Comparison with Asymptomatic Carriers. Iran J Public Health, 54(2):435-42.
15. Azarpazhooh MR, Hasanpour K, Ghanbari M, et al (2012). Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 prevalence in northeastern Iran, Sabzevar: an epidemiologic-based study and phylogenetic analysis. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses, 28(9):1095-101.
16. Pourrezaei S, Shadabi S, Gheidishahran M, et al (2021). Molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 in the tax gene and it association with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma disorders Iran J Microbiol, 13(4):509-517.
17. Fujikawa D, Nakagawa S, Hori M, et al (2016). Polycomb-dependent epigenetic landscape in adult T-cell leukemia. Blood, 127(14):1790-802.
18. Pashabayg CR, Momenifar N, Malekpour SA, et al (2020). Phylogenetic and phylodynamic study of Human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) in Iran. Infect Genet Evol, 85:104426.
19. Hall WW, Fujii M (2005). Deregulation of cell-signaling pathways in HTLV-1 infection. Oncogene, 24(39):5965-75.
20. Mueller N, Okayama A, Stuver S, et al (1996). Findings from the Miyazaki cohort study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol, 13 Suppl 1:S2-7.
21. Voevodin A, Gessain A (1997). Common origin of human T‐lymphotropic virus type‐I from Iran, Kuwait, Israel, and La Réunion Island. J Med Virol, 52(1):77-82.
22. Karimi G, Zadsar M, Pourfathollah AA, et al (2017). Seroprevalence and geographical distribution of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 among volunteer blood donors in endemic areas of Iran. Virol J, 14:14.
23. Ferdowsi S, Najafzadeh M, Ameli MR, et al (2019). Evaluating the frequency of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 infection in Iranian population. Iranian Journal of Blood and Cancer, 11(2):47-50.
24. Yasunaga J, Matsuoka M (2011). Molecular mechanisms of HTLV-1 infection and pathogenesis. Int J Hematol, 94(5):435-42.
25. Furukawa Y, Yamashita M, Usuku K, et al (2000). Phylogenetic subgroups of human t cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type in the tax gene and their association with different risks for HTLV-I—associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. J Infect Dis, 182(5):1343-9.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 54 No 12 (2025) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Tax Phylogenetic Mutation Genetics Iran | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Noori B, Bahavar A, Sharifi Z, Kafialqora P, Navi Z, Rahimi Foroushani A, Shafiei M, Jazayeri SM, Mozhgani S-H, Norouzi M. Phylogenetic and Mutational Analysis of the Tax Gene in the Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1 (HTLV-1) in Three Provinces of Iran. Iran J Public Health. 2025;54(12):2764-2772.
