Genetic subtypes of HIV type 1 in Republic of Congo.
To assess the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Republic of Congo (Congo), we investigated 29 HIV-1s obtained from 82 Congolese AIDS and ARC patients in 1996 and 1997. Part of the env region including the V3 loop was phylogenetically analyzed. The genotypes observed were varied: of 29 specimens, 12 (41 %) were subtype A, 1 (3%) was subtype D, 6 (21%) were subtype G, 6 (21%) were subtype H, 2 (7%) were subtype J, and 2 (7%) could not be classified as any known subtypes (U, unclassified). The heterogeneous profile of HIV-1 infection was different from the profiles of neighboring Central African countries. These data show that subtypes G and H as well as subtype A were circulating with high prevalence. The fact that new genetic subtypes (J and U) are circulating indicates a need for a greater surveillance for these subtypes both in Congo as well as in other parts of the world.
Bikandou
B
B
Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis, Institute for Virus Research Kyoto University, Japan.
Takehisa
J
J
Mboudjeka
I
I
Ido
E
E
Kuwata
T
T
Miyazaki
Y
Y
Moriyama
H
H
Harada
Y
Y
Taniguchi
Y
Y
Ichimura
H
H
Ikeda
M
M
Ndolo
P J
PJ
Nzoukoudi
M Y
MY
M'Vouenze
R
R
M'Pandi
M
M
Parra
H J
HJ
M'Pelé
P
P
Hayami
M
M
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003223:Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments