title: Field evaluation of the gag-based heteroduplex mobility assay for genetic subtyping of circulating recombinant forms of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
abstract: The gag-based heteroduplex mobility assay (gag-HMA) was evaluated for its ease and reliability in subtyping circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Côte d'Ivoire. One hundred thirty-two plasma samples were analyzed blindly for HIV-1 subtypes by sequencing the pol gene and by gag-HMA. DNA sequencing was used as the "gold standard." Of the 132 samples sequenced, 108 (82%) were CRF02_AG, 14 (11%) were pure subtype A, 5 (4%) were subtype G, 3 (2%) were subtype D, 1 was CRF01_AE, and 1 was subtype H. The gag-HMA correctly classified 126 (95.5%) of the samples. Of the 108 samples that were classified as CRF02_AG by DNA sequencing, 107 (99%) were correctly identified by gag-HMA, resulting in a positive predictive value of 96.4%. The gag-HMA seems to be a valuable tool for understanding the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 CRF02_AG in Côte d'Ivoire and West Africa, which could be important for developing and evaluating AIDS vaccines, although DNA sequencing remains necessary for accurate molecular epidemiology.
authors.affiliation: Projet RETRO-CI, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire and Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Surveillance and Epidemiology, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawadogo
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adjé-Touré
authors.forename: Celestin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Bilé
authors.forename: Rene E A
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ekpini
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chorba
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Nkengasong
mesh_terms: D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015750:Genes, gag / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D020180:Heteroduplex Analysis; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral