HIV-1 superinfection is not a common event.
Evidence for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) superinfection was investigated among a group of four previously HIV-1 infected transfusion recipients (and the four implicated HIV-1 infected donors) identified by the Transfusion Safety Study, and two groups of 4 and 5 Brazilian injection drug users, who consistently injected themselves using shared paraphernalia. To probe these cases for possible superinfection we used heteroduplex mobility analysis (HMA) of HIV-1 tat, a technique which is a reliable for establishing epidemiologic linkages and searching for minor strains in mixed infection settings. In all these cases with established, untreated HIV-1 infections, we were unable to detect HIV-1 superinfection, even though the involved individuals were at high risk for second strain acquisition. We therefore conclude that although superinfection can occur in a few cases, it is a rare event, and the vast majority of recombinant HIV-1s characterized to date resulted from acute coinfections, rather than superinfection.
Diaz
Ricardo Sobhie
RS
Federal University of São Paulo SP, R. Pedro de Toledo 781, 16 Andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP 04039-032, Brazil. rsdiaz@usp.br
Pardini
Regina
R
Catroxo
Márcia
M
Operskalski
Eva A
EA
Mosley
James W
JW
Busch
Michael P
MP
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D020180:Heteroduplex Analysis; D006801:Humans; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D015163:Superinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015696:Gene Products, tat; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus