An HIV type 1 epidemic among injecting drug users in the former Soviet Union caused by a homogeneous subtype A strain

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1997 Sep 20;13(14):1195-201. doi: 10.1089/aid.1997.13.1195.

Abstract

Epidemiological data have demonstrated rapid growth of HIV-1 infections among injecting drug users (IDUs) in the Ukraine and Russia, during 1996. Here we describe the results of genetic analysis of isolates derived from 12 HIV-1-infected IDUs in different sites of Russia and the Ukraine. The blood samples were taken within a 1- to 2-month period after the first HIV-1-positive test. The results of the heteroduplex mobility assay as well as gag/env phylogenetic analysis reveal that all sequences belong to gag/env genetic subtype A. Moreover, interpatient genetic distances between the nucleotide sequences encompassing the C2-V3, the V4-V5, and p17-encoding regions within this group were low (the average means were 0.9, 1.3, and 0.4%, respectively). These data show a marked homogeneity of HIV-1, probably spreading during primary infection. It is possible that the current epidemic of subtype A HIV-1 among IDUs in the former Soviet Union is caused by a point source exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Gene Products, env / analysis
  • Gene Products, env / chemistry
  • Gene Products, env / genetics
  • Gene Products, gag / analysis
  • Gene Products, gag / chemistry
  • Gene Products, gag / genetics
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Russia / epidemiology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / physiopathology
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / virology*
  • Ukraine / epidemiology

Substances

  • Gene Products, env
  • Gene Products, gag

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U93611
  • GENBANK/U93612
  • GENBANK/U93613
  • GENBANK/U93614
  • GENBANK/U93615
  • GENBANK/U93616
  • GENBANK/U93617
  • GENBANK/U93618
  • GENBANK/U93619
  • GENBANK/U93620
  • GENBANK/U93621
  • GENBANK/U93622
  • GENBANK/U93623
  • GENBANK/U93624
  • GENBANK/U93625
  • GENBANK/U93626
  • GENBANK/U93627
  • GENBANK/U93628
  • GENBANK/U93629
  • GENBANK/U93630
  • GENBANK/U93631
  • GENBANK/U93632
  • GENBANK/U93633
  • GENBANK/U93634
  • GENBANK/U93635
  • GENBANK/U93636
  • GENBANK/U93637
  • GENBANK/U93638
  • GENBANK/U93639
  • GENBANK/U93640