Identificación de subtipos B y F de VIH-1 en pacientes chilenos / Identification of B and F human immunodeficiency virus subtypes in Chilean patients

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Type I human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is characterized by a great genetic variability. There are three groups of virus throughout the world O, N and M. Group M is responsible for AIDS pandemic and is subdivided in 9 genetic subtypes. Most viral strains in South America are subtype B. AIM: To determine the frequency of HIV subtypes in Chilean patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Genetic analysis of C2-V3-C3 region of the gene env in HIV strains coming from 77 Chilean subjects infected by different means. DNA heteroduplex mobility assay was used to determine HIV subtypes. RESULTS: Sixty eight cases were infected with subtype B (88.3 per cent) and nine cases were infected with subtype F (11.7 per cent). CONCLUSIONS: Subtype B is the predominant HIV in Chile, but subtype F is also present.