HIV type 1 genetic diversity surveillance among newly diagnosed individuals from 2003 to 2005 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2007 Oct;23(10):1201-7. doi: 10.1089/aid.2007.0068.

Abstract

To perform a diversity surveillance study we characterized viral subtypes among newly diagnosed individuals in Buenos Aires city. Plasma samples were collected from 322 drug-naive newly diagnosed HIV-1 individuals attending two voluntary counseling and testing centers. Sequences of pol and vpu genes were obtained from 283 samples and viral subtype was characterized by Neighbor-joining trees and Bootscanning analysis. BF recombinants were found in 56.9% followed by subtype B strains (39.2%). CRF12_BF structure was found in 27% of BF while another 27% had that structure only in one of both genes analyzed. Unusual non-B-non-BF strains were found in 3.9% (11/283). They were further analyzed by database searching and maximum likelihood trees in order to track their origin. Two subtype C sequences were found to be related to South American isolates while another two subtype C sequences and the subtype C segment of a BC recombinant were found to be related to isolates from Senegal. We also identified the CRF16_A2D previously found in Argentina and the CRF06_cpx commonly prevalent in Africa. The B segment of a BD recombinant was also found to be related to the Argentinean Bs suggesting a recombination between an African and a local strain. We also found a BK and two BA recombinants. In conclusion, CRF16_A2D and a new line of subtype C (of Senegalese origin) seem to be successfully established and are now spreading in Buenos Aires. BF recombinants keep recombining with local strains losing the CRF12_BF structure. Altogether they are changing the diversity of HIV in Argentina.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Argentina / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phylogeny
  • Population Surveillance*