ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To document infection with HIV type 1 (HIV-1) group M non-B subtypes in individuals living in New York City. DESIGN: From October 1999 through April 2003, HIV-1-seropositive individuals were selected from 3 clinics in New York City based on having risk factors for infection with HIV-1 non-B subtypes. METHODS: HIV-1 RNA was extracted from plasma samples, and partial gag, pol, or env genes were amplified by PCR analysis. The infecting HIV-1 group M subtype was determined based on results of either heteroduplex mobility assay or sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-seven subjects were enrolled in the study. Of the 97 subjects, 91 (94%) were selected based on having emigrated from a non-European country, while 6 (6%) were native United States citizens. Subtypes were successfully determined in 53 (55%) of the 97 plasma samples tested. The subtypes in 2 plasma samples were unclassifiable. HIV-1 infections were classified as those due to the following group M subtypes: A (n = 4; 7%), B (n = 12; 22%), C (n = 8; 15%), F (n = 2; 4%), CRF01_AE-like (n = 7; 13%), CRF02_AG-like (n = 19; 34%), an intersubtype recombinant form G/A (n = 1; 2%), and unclassifiable viruses (n = 2; 4%). CONCLUSION: This study reveals infection with a broad variety of HIV-1 group M subtypes mostly in the immigrant population of New York City as well as how several non-B subtypes are being introduced into the United States.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/virology , HIV-1/classification , Adult , Base Sequence , Emigration and Immigration , Female , Genes, env , Genes, gag , Genes, pol , Genotype , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV-1/genetics , HIV-1/isolation & purification , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Molecular Epidemiology , New York City/epidemiology , Phylogeny , RNA, Viral/blood , RNA, Viral/genetics , Risk Factors , TravelABSTRACT
This study describes the HIV-1 genetic diversity that currently circulates in Bamenda, the provincial capital of the North West province of Cameroon. Phylogenetic analysis of the protease (pro) gene of 20 HIV-1-seropositive individuals identified 11 (55%) CRF02_AG, one D, one F2, one J, and four (20%) unclassifiable strains. Interestingly, the remaining two (10%) samples, 02CMNYU3072 and 03CMNYU3224, originating from epidemiologically unlinked individuals, were classified as CRF09_cpx, representing the first reported cases of this complex circulating recombinant form (CRF) in Cameroon. Additional analysis of the C2V5 portion of the envelope (env) gene confirmed the CRF09_cpx identity of these isolates and classified the remaining isolates as CRF02_AG (n = 12, 63%), subtype D (n = 2, 11%), subtype F2 (n = 2, 11%), and subtype A1 (n = 1). In combination, the pro and env subtyping results revealed three (16%) isolates with discordant subtypes including J( pro )CRF02_AG( env ), CRF02_AG( pro )D( env ), and CRF02_AG( pro )F2( env ). In conclusion, this study highlights the presence of HIV-1 CRF09_cpx in Cameroon and identifies three possible intersubtype recombinants (ISRs) containing CRF02_AG in a town where CRF02_AG infections predominate, and stresses the commonness of HIV-1 recombinant strains in a region where broad genetic diversity exists.
