Analysis of full-length human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genome reveals a variable spectrum of subtypes B and f recombinants in São Paulo, Brazil.
Recombination is one of the major mechanisms contributing to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variability. Analysis of pol gene sequences of 215 HIV-1 samples from São Paulo, Brazil classified 189 sequences as subtype B (87.9%), 8 sequences as subtype F (3.7%), and 18 sequences (8.4%) as B/F recombinants. After the analysis of the pol gene, a subset of six recombinant samples composed of sequences with a related recombinant pol structure was selected for full-length genome analysis to identify a possible circulating recombinant form. According to full-length genome analysis, recombination was higher in gag, protease, reverse transcriptase, integrase, and vif. Identification of many distinct recombinant forms and the absence of an identifiable HIV-1 circulating recombinant form suggest that a high frequency of dual infections between HIV-1 subtypes B and F is occurring in São Paulo, Brazil.
Sa Filho
Dercy José de
DJ
Retrovirology Laboratory, Federal University of São Paulo, SP 0439032, Brazil.
Sanabani
Sabri
S
Diaz
Ricardo Sobhie
RS
Munerato
Patrícia
P
Brunstein
Adriana
A
Fusuma
Erika
E
Sabino
Ester Cerdeira
EC
Janini
Luiz Mario
LM
D001938:Brazil; D015751:Genes, pol; D016679:Genome, Viral; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011995:Recombination, Genetic