HIV-1 subtype B' dictates the AIDS epidemic among paid blood donors in the Henan and Hubei provinces of China.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the genetic background of HIV-1 strains among infected paid blood donors (PBD) in the Henan and Hubei provinces of China.


METHODS
The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify HIV-1 gag p17 fragments and some 5'-half or full-length viral genomes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The HIV-1 sequences obtained were analysed using phylogenetic and recombinant approaches.


RESULTS
Among the total of 62 samples studied, 59 (95.2%) came from PBD. Of those 59 PBD, 45 were collected from 14 different geographical locations in Henan, whereas the remaining 14 were from five locations in Hubei. A total of 62 HIV-1 gag p17 fragments, three 5'-half and one full HIV-1 genome sequences were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences suggests that PBD from Henan and Hubei, despite being geographically distant, harbored a group of genetically closely related HIV-1 B' strains. No recombinant forms have been detected in this cohort.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that the AIDS epidemic among PBD in Henan and Hubei is caused largely by HIV-1 subtype B', which contrasts greatly with the CB' recombinant strains CRF-07 and CRF-08 currently dominating among the drug abusers in other regions of China. Our report has revealed the first complete genome background of the most dominant circulating HIV-1 strain in Henan and Hubei, which is essential for the design and development of an effective AIDS vaccine for the region.
Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Hubei 430072, PR China.
Bo
B
Su
Li
L
Liu
Fusheng
F
Wang
Xien
X
Gui
Min
M
Zhao
Po
P
Tien
Linqi
L
Zhang
Zhiwei
Z
Chen
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D015750:Genes, gag; D016679:Genome, Viral; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000235:genetics