Subtype and sequence analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 strains in Guangdong province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate subtype and genetic analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA sequences were amplified by nested-PCR from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from 100 HIV-1 patients from Guangdong Province. The C2 to V3 region of the envelope glycoprotein gp120 of HIV-1 was sequenced directly. The analysis of the gene-based phylogenetic tree and variation of amino acid were carried out by using Wisconsin software package or genetics computer group (GCG).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DNA fragments were amplified from 75 PBMC samples by using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequence analysis showed that there were 3 HIV-1 subtypes or circulating recombinant forms (CRF): CRF01-AE (n = 44), CRF-BC (n = 27) and B' (n = 4).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Three HIV-1 subtypes or circulating recombinant forms: CRF01-AE, CRF-BC and B' might be circulating in Guangdong Province. Findings from this study suggested that several subtypes might exist in Guangdong Province and the epidemic situation of AIDS be serious. It should be a challenge for Guangdong Province in treating patients, preventing and controlling AIDS in the future.</p>

Distribution of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type-1 CRF01_AE strains in China and its sequence variations in the env V3-C3 region / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To characterize CRF01_AE strains of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) found in the Second National Molecular Epidemiology Study on HIV in China and to analyze its sequence variation in the env V3-C3 region during the First National Molecular Epidemiology Study (NMES1, 1996 - 1998) to the Second National Molecular Epidemiology Study (NMES2, 2001 - 2002).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA was extracted from peripheal blood mononuclear cells of the subjects with HIV infection. The env C2-V4 region of HIV-1 was amplified with nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR). PCR products were directly sequenced using ABI 377 DNA sequencer, then the gene-based phylogenetic tree was constructed and its variation of amino acids was analyzed with GCG software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 169 strains of recombinant HIV-1 CRF01_AE were identified from blood samples collected from different high risk groups in 17 of 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions all over China by the end of 2002. Although sexual transmission still dominated during NMES1 (62.2%, 23/37) and NMES2 (55.3%, 73/132), prevalence of HIV-1 CRF01_AE in intravenous drug users (IDUs) increased to 41.6% (57/137) during NMES2 from 27% (10/37) during NMES1. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that HIV-1 CRF01_AE strains prevalent in IDUs during NMES2 did not cluster with those prevalent in the subjects infected by sexual transmission during NMES2 and those in IDUs during NMES1. The amino acid residues of V3 region of HIV-1 CRF01_AE in IDUs were relatively conservative, but the sixth, eighth, ninth, tenth, twelfth, fifteenth, sixteenth amino acid residues of C3 region displayed regular changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HIV-1 CRF01_AE strain has been introduced into inland provinces from southeastern coast areas and southwestern border areas, with an increasing prevalence in IDUs. The sequence of env V3-C3 region of recombinant HIV-1 CRF01_AE strains prevalent in IDUs during NMES2 was obviously different from that during NMES1, suggesting that HIV-1 CRF01_AE strains prevalent in IDUs during NMES2 might come from a new source and have a potential to spread.</p>