Biological and molecular characterization of subtype D, G, and A/D recombinant HIV-1 transmissions in Sweden.
HIV-1 can be subdivided into at least nine genetic subtypes (A through H and O), but in Europe and the United States there is an almost complete dominance of subtype B. In this study three Swedish HIV-1 transmission chains of subtypes other than subtype B have been biologically and molecularly characterized. The three index cases were African men. The p17 gag and env V3 regions of the HIV-1 genome were directly sequenced from uncultured lymphocytes. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the HIV-1 variants with each transmission group were genetically closely related, supporting the epidemiological information. The individuals in transmission groups I (n = 3) and II (n = 2) carried subtype G and D virus, respectively. Interestingly, all four individuals in transmission group III displayed a recombinant genotype with subtype D p17 gag sequence and subtype A V3 sequence. The biological phenotype of virus isolates (rapid/high, syncytium-inducing; or slow/low, non-syncytium-inducing) correlated with the clinical stage of the infected individual. The study also suggested that the correlation between biological phenotype and V3 genotype that has been established for subtype B HIV-1 variants may be valid also for other subtypes. This study demonstrates that HIV-1 variants of subtypes other than B, including a subtype A/D recombinant, are being transmitted in Europe.
Leitner
T
T
Department of Clinical Virology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control/Karolinska Institute, Stockholm.
Escanilla
D
D
Marquina
S
S
Wahlberg
J
J
Broström
C
C
Hansson
H B
HB
Uhlén
M
M
Albert
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics; D015684:Gene Products, pol / Q000235:genetics; D015752:Genes, env; D015750:Genes, gag; D015751:Genes, pol; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015684:Gene Products, pol; D015488:HIV Antigens; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C054858:p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1