title: Molecular investigation of two possible cases of accidental HIV-1 transmission in South Africa.
abstract: HIV-1 sequences from two possible transmission cases in South Africa were examined for evidence of genetic linkage. HIV-1-seropositive blood samples were obtained from a donor and recipient within 8 months following a blood transfusion and from a healthcare worker and her patient within 10 months following a needle-stick injury. A 700-bp region in env and 550-bp region in gag were analyzed. All sequences were phylogenetically associated with HIV-1 subtype C, the predominant HIV-1 subtype in South Africa. The nucleotide sequences from the blood transfusion case grouped together significantly with a bootstrap value of 100%. These samples were 98% and 100% identical in the predicted amino acid sequences of env and gag, respectively. In contrast, sequences from the needle-stick case showed only 67% and 80% amino acid identity in env and gag, respectively, and were separated on a phylogenetic tree. Molecular analysis suggested that HIV transmission occurred in the blood transfusion case but not in the case of the needle-stick injury. These data emphasize the need for molecular investigation of epidemiologically linked cases of HIV transmission.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Virus Research Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bredell
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Crookes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: du P Heynes
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Schoub
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001782:Blood Donors; D017028:Caregivers; D016358:Contact Tracing; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015752:Genes, env; D015750:Genes, gag; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000821:virology*; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral