Monitoring HIV-1 Group M Subtypes in Yaoundé, Cameroon Reveals Broad Genetic Diversity and a Novel CRF02_AG/F2 Infection

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2016 Apr;32(4):381-5. doi: 10.1089/aid.2015.0286. Epub 2015 Dec 17.

Abstract

Broad HIV-1 genetic diversity in Cameroon provides a unique opportunity to monitor HIV-1 evolution and allows the detection of novel strains. We have genetically characterized the HIV-1 subtypes found in 156 samples from 90 drug-naive subjects in Yaoundé, Cameroon collected from 2011 to 2013, using phylogenetic analysis of regions in gag and pol. We identified subtypes CRF02_AG (64.9%), CRF22_01A1 (7.1%), D (4.5%), F2 (3.9%), G (3.2%), CRF18_cpx (3.2%), CRF37_cpx (3.2%), CRF11_cpx (2.6%), CRF13_cpx (1.9%), A1 (1.3%), CRF01_AE (1.3%), CRF09_cpx (1.3%), A2 (0.6%), and H (0.6%). Sequence data for both the gag and pol regions were obtained from 62 subjects; for 59 of these subjects the two regions were identified as the same viral subtype while three subjects were discordant, A1/CRF02_AG (subject MDC006), CRF02_AG/F2 (subject MDC179), and a dual infection with CRF02_AG/F2 (subject MDC131). Longitudinal sequence data were obtained for 28 of these 62 subjects and confirmed the cross-sectional results. These data update subtype information for this area and highlight the necessity of such studies due to the numerous circulating subtypes, the ongoing superinfection, and the risk of emerging novel recombinant viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cameroon / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / classification*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Young Adult
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics

Substances

  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus