Differences in perinatal transmission among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genotypes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether genotypes from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtypes A, C, or D or intersubtype recombinants have the same probability of being transmitted from mother to child.


METHODS
We determined the HIV-1 genetic subtype and maternal risk factors of 51 matched transmitting and nontransmitting mothers from Tanzania. The HIV-1 gag (p24-p7) and env (C2-C5) nucleotide sequences were used for genotype classification, and matched logistic regression analysis was used to assess differences among genotypes.


RESULTS
Mothers infected with HIV-1 subtype A (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% CI, 0.8-24.7%), HIV-1 subtype C (odds ratio, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.3-30.8%), or HIV-1 intersubtype recombinant viruses (odds ratio, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.2-33.4%) were more likely to transmit HIV-1 to their infants than mothers infected with HIV-1 subtype D. Lower CD4 cell counts at enrollment were associated with transmission, but CD4 cell counts within each genotype did not explain differences in transmission among HIV-1 genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
We have shown that HIV-1 genotypes might be associated with differential risk for vertical transmission. These findings provide the first evidence that HIV-1 genetic subtypes may play a role in rates of vertical transmission in an African setting.
Renjifo
B
B
Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Harvard Medical School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115-6017, USA. brenjifo@hsph.harvard.edu
Fawzi
W
W
Mwakagile
D
D
Hunter
D
D
Msamanga
G
G
Spiegelman
D
D
Garland
M
M
Kagoma
C
C
Kim
A
A
Chaplin
B
B
Hertzmark
E
E
Essex
M
M
D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; C071884:NCP7 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus