title: Genetic diversification and recombination of HIV type 1 group M in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: As the HIV-1 pandemic becomes increasingly complex, the genetic characterization of HIV strains bears important implications for vaccine research. To better understand the molecular evolution of HIV-1 viral diversity, we performed a comparative molecular analysis of HIV strains collected from high-risk persons in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Analysis of the gag-p24, env-C2V3 and -gp41 regions from 83 specimens collected in 1999-2000 revealed that 44 (53%) had concordant subtypes in the three regions (14 subsubtype A1, 10 subtype G, 8 subtype D, 5 subtype C, 2 each subsubtype F1 and CRF01_AE, and one each of subtypes H and J, and subsubtype A2, while the remaining 39 (47%) had mosaic genomes comprising multiple subtype combinations. Similar multisubtype patterns were also observed in 24 specimens collected in 1985. Sequence analysis of the gag-pol region (2.1 kb) from 21 discordant specimens in the gag-p24, env-C2V3 and -gp41 regions in 1985 and 1999-2000 further confirmed the complex recombinant patterns. Despite the remarkable similarity in overall subtype distribution, the intra- and intersubtype distances of major subtypes A1 and G increased significantly from 1985 to 1999-2000 (p=0.018 and p=0.0016, respectively). Given the complexity of HIV-1 viruses circulating in DRC, efforts should focus on the development of vaccines that result in cross-clade immunity.
authors.affiliation: HIV Immunology and Diagnostics Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, AIDS, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. cyang1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Chunfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: John L K
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mokili
authors.forename: Jorn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Ndongala M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lubaki
authors.forename: Kashamuka M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mwandagalirwa
authors.forename: Mwamba J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kasali
authors.forename: Atibu J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Losoma
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bollinger
authors.forename: Renu B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D015686:Gene Products, env; D015683:Gene Products, gag