FIG. 2.
Comparison of deduced amino acid gp90 variable region sequences from EIAV isolates during sequential disease cycles in persistently infected ponies. The region of the env gene coding for the surface glycoprotein was sequenced from EIAVPV stock and from plasma viral RNA collected during febrile episodes of EIAVPV-infected infected ponies 561 (I), 562 (I), 564 (VI), and 567 (I through VI). Deduced amino acid (AA) sequences were aligned and compared to the EIAVPV inoculum sequence. Only amino acid residues different from those in EIAVPV are shown. Dots indicate residues identical to the EIAVPV sequence; dashes indicate amino acid deletions; underlined amino acids indicate potential N-glycosylation sites (NXS/T); triangles indicate newly created potential N-glycosylation sites. Previously described variable regions V1 through V8 (16) are boxed. The PND with the major neutralizing epitopes (ENT and DNT; delineated by gray boxes) localized in the V3 region (2) is indicated by a black line.