ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristic of subtypes and genetic diversity of HIV-1 circulating in Hubei province and its molecular epidemiological linkages with regard to risk factors of viral transmission.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>plasma samples of 80 diagnosed individuals was characterized. The gene fragments of gag were amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and HIV-1 genotypes were determined based on the nucleotide sequences of gag region.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seven HIV-1 group M subtypes or CRF including B, B', G, CRF01-AE, CRF07-BC, CRF08-BC and CRF15-01B were identified. CRF01-AE was found to be the most dominant subtype (48.4%) followed by CRF7-BC (22.6%) and B' (12.9%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The data from this study indicate the existence of multiple HIV-1 subtypes or CRFs in Hubei province and the surveillance of HIV-1 gene variation should be paid more attention to.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , China , Epidemiology , Genotype , HIV Infections , Epidemiology , Virology , HIV-1 , Classification , Genetics , Phylogeny , gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the distribution of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) genotypes in Hubei province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Epidemiological survey was carried out to HIV-1 carriers who were identified in Hubei province. HIV-1 env V3-V4, gag P17/24 and the first exon of tat region were amplified by nested-polymerase chain reaction(nPCR) .The sequences were determined, and phylogenetic analyses were then performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>4 HIV-1 strains or circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) were identified in Hubei province with subtype B' the predominant which covered 5 kinds of populations including former blood donors, blood receivers, spouses of the infected people, sex workers and their clients, homosexuals, mainly distributed in the areas with many former blood donors. CRF08-BC and CRF01-AE were found distributed in economically more developed cities or southern area of the province, and the major transmission routes was through sexual contact. Only 1 patient, an injecting drug user, was identified having subtype C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Subtype B' was the main epidemic subtypes in Hubei province while CRF08-BC, CRF01-AE and subtype C were also circulating in the province, indicating the transmission of the disease might to become more complex.</p>