Predominance of HIV type 1 subtype G among commercial sex workers from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
We have investigated the genetic diversity and potential mosaic genomes of HIV-1 during the early part of the HIV-1 epidemic among commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Serologic analysis revealed that 27 (28.7%) of the 94 specimens were seropositive by both peptide and whole-virus lysate EIAs and that 24 were positive by molecular screening assays, using generic primers that can detect all known groups of HIV-1. Phylogenetic analyses of the gag(p24), C2V3, and gp41 regions of these 24 specimens showed that all were group M; none of them had any evidence of group O, N, or SIVcpz-like sequences. On the basis of env sequence analysis, the 24 group M specimens were classified as subtypes G (37.5%), A (21%), F1 (12.5%), CRF01_AE (8%), D (4%), and H (4%); 3 (12.5%) were unclassifiable (U). Similar analysis of the gag(p24) region revealed that the majority of infections were subtype A; however, one-third of the specimens were subtype G. Parallel analysis of gag(p24) and env regions revealed discordant subtypes in many specimens that may reflect possible dual and/or recombinant viruses. These data suggest a predominance of subtype G (both pure G and recombinant CRF02_AG) during the early part of the epidemic in Kinshasa. Infections with group N or SIVcpz-like viruses were not present among these CSWs in Kinshasa.
Yang
C
C
HIV Immunology and Diagnostics Branch and HIV and Retrovirology Branch, Division of AIDS, STD, and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Dash
B
B
Hanna
S L
SL
Frances
H S
HS
Nzilambi
N
N
Colebunders
R C
RC
St  Louis
M
M
Quinn
T C
TC
Folks
T M
TM
Lal
R B
RB
D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006678:HIV; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000235:genetics; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D011477:Sex Work
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; C098314:HIV envelope glycoprotein gp41 (593-603); C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012367:RNA, Viral