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.
Su
Bo
B
Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Hubei 430072, PR China.
Liu
Li
L
Wang
Fusheng
F
Gui
Xien
X
Zhao
Min
M
Tien
Po
P
Zhang
Linqi
L
Chen
Zhiwei
Z
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