Genetic diversity of HIV type 1 in Likasi, southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2004 Dec;20(12):1352-7. doi: 10.1089/aid.2004.20.1352.

Abstract

To investigate the prevalence of subtypes A and C, and the existence of recombinants of both subtypes in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), blood samples were collected from 27 HIV-infected individuals in Likasi, located in an area bordering close to Zambia, and analyzed phylogenetically. Out of the 24 strains with a positive PCR profile for pol-IN and env-C2V3, 15 (62.5%) had a discordant subtype or CRF designation: one subtype A/G (pol/env), four A/U (unclassified), three G/A, one G/CRF01, three H/A, one J/C, one CRF02 (G)/A, and one U/A. Nine (37.5%) strains had a concordant subtype or CRF designation: five subtype A, two C, one D, and one CRF02/G. The remaining three samples negative for PCR with env-C2V3 primers used in this study were further analyzed with env-gp41 primers and revealed the presence of two profiles: two J/J (pol-IN/env-gp41) and one C/G. These data highlight the presence of a high proportion (16/27, 59.3%) of recombinant strains and a low prevalence (4.1 and 7.4%) of subtype C based on env-C2V3 and pol-IN analyses, respectively, in Likasi. In addition, this is the first report that CRF02_AG exists in DRC, though the epidemiological significance of the existence of CRF02_AG in DRC remains unknown.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Democratic Republic of the Congo / epidemiology
  • Gene Products, env / genetics
  • Genetic Variation*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / genetics
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny

Substances

  • Gene Products, env
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY661750
  • GENBANK/AY661751
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