Phylogenetic and Mutational Analysis of the Tax Gene in the Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1 (HTLV-1) in Three Provinces of Iran

Bezhan  Noori; Vahid  Shahnavaz; Atefeh  Bahavar; Zohreh  Sharifi; Parnaz  Kafialqora; Zahra  Navi; Abbas Rahimi   Foroushani; Mohammadreza  Shafiei; Seyed Mohammad  Jazayeri; Sayed-Hamidreza  Mozhgani; Mehdi  Norouzi

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i12.20847

Bezhan Noori Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Vahid Shahnavaz Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Atefeh Bahavar Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Zohreh Sharifi Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
Parnaz Kafialqora Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Zahra Navi Urology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abbas Rahimi Foroushani Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammadreza Shafiei Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Mehdi Norouzi Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i12.20847

Keywords: Tax; Phylogenetic; Mutation, Genetics; Iran

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.