title: Circulation of novel HIV type 1 A, B/C, and F subtypes in Argentina.
abstract: The Argentine HIV-1 epidemic is considered to be represented mainly by subtype B and diverse B/F recombinants, with apparent absence of pure subtype F. In this study we describe three novel HIV-1 variants isolated from four infants born in different and distant provinces of Argentina. Partial analysis of different gene fragments spanning 18.5-40.8% of the HIV-1 complete genome revealed two subtype A HIV-1 strains in siblings, a B/C recombinant with a novel mosaic structure, and a putative subtype F. Characteristic patterns of genomic and amino acid sequences of the newly reported subtype F isolate suggest a closer genetic relationship to Argentine B/F recombinants than any other subtype F strain described so far, while the A and B/C subtypes found correspond to unusual genotypes in Argentina. Understanding the origin, diversity, and spread of HIV-1 strains worldwide will be necessary for the development of an effective vaccine approach.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Retrovirus, Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Paula C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Aulicino
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopka
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bologna
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001118:Argentina; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data