Mother-to-child HIV type 1 transmission in Argentina: BF recombinants have predominated in infected children since the mid-1980s.
The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Argentina is more complex than was previously appreciated. One circulating recombinant form, CRF12_BF, and many related BF recombinant forms predominate in the capital city, Buenos Aires. This study of HIV-1 subtypes acquired perinatally between 1984 and 2000 has permitted, for the first time, a reconstruction of the history of BF recombination in Argentina. Sequencing of a partial genome region from the beginning of vpu to the beginning of env(gp120), which spans a breakpoint common in most contemporary Argentine BF recombinants, enabled samples to be rapidly screened. Among 23 children born between 1984 and 2000, 15 including 1 child born in 1986, harbored a BF recombinant. Thirteen of the 15 recombinants shared a common breakpoint at the 5' end of env(gp120). Full genome sequencing of two viruses, from 1986 and 1987, respectively, revealed them to be genetically related but not identical to CRF12_BF. Both contained more subtype B sequence than did CRF12_BF. BF recombinants related to CRF12_BF have been in circulation in Buenos Aires since 1986 and continue to predominate in perinatal transmissions.
Gomez Carrillo
M
M
National Reference Center for AIDS, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Avila
M
M
Hierholzer
J
J
Pando
M
M
Martinez
P L
PL
McCutchan
F E
FE
Carr
J K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D016333:HIV Protease / Q000235:genetics; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D010802:Phylogeny; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D016333:HIV Protease; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D012313:RNA; D012367:RNA, Viral; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C039919:RNA, recombinant; C514859:vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins