Molecular diversity of HIV in Albania.
Little information is available on circulating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) subtypes and resistance to antiretroviral drugs in Albania. To fill this gap, we studied 72 plasma samples from HIV-infected individuals from throughout the country. Subtype classification and genotypic resistance analysis were performed on the HIV pol gene region. The analysis was successfully performed on 66 (91.6%) plasma samples and showed that 43 (65.2%) strains were non-B subtypes (mostly subtype A, as determined by analysis of pol gene sequences). No major mutations in the protease gene were found, whereas analysis of the reverse transcriptase gene revealed a few major mutations associated with resistance. In conclusion, non-B subtypes are predominant in Albania, and the prevalence of resistance to antiretroviral drugs is still low.
Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy. ciccozzi@iss.it
Massimo
M
Ciccozzi
Caterina
C
Gori
Stefano
S
Boros
Maria Jose
MJ
Ruiz-Alvarez
Arjan
A
Harxhi
Marjeta
M
Dervishi
Shpetim
S
Qyra
Nicola
N
Schinaia
Roberta
R
D'Arrigo
Francesca
F
Ceccherini-Silberstein
Silva
S
Bino
Carlo Federico
CF
Perno
Giovanni
G
Rezza
D000415:Albania; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006678:HIV / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents