title: Heterosexual transmission of novel CRF01_AE and subtype B recombinant forms of HIV type 1 in northern Thailand.
abstract: The increased proportion of CRFO1_AE/subtype B recombinant infections among injecting drug users raised a concern that such recombinant forms may also spread in a heterosexual population in Thailand. Using the BootScan method, we reanalyzed pol gene sequences among 114 heterosexually infected individuals in northern Thailand, who were tested for a drug-resistance genotype between July 2000 and July 2001. Two individuals were suspected of carrying a recombinant HIV-1. Thus we analyzed a nearly full-length HIV genome in the two individuals and their spouses. An identical recombinant form of CRF01_AE and subtype B was found in one couple, indicating that this recombinant virus was heterosexually transmitted. Interestingly, this recombinant form had multiple breakpoints in the core protein of Gag and both infected individuals had a high CD4+ cell count without antiretroviral therapy. CRFO1/subtype B recombinant forms exist in a heterosexual population in northern Thailand. Some recombinant virus may be associated with a slow rate of HIV disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Thai National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nuanjuan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wichukchinda
authors.forename: Teiichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiino
authors.forename: Jirawan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Srisawat
authors.forename: Archawin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rojanawiwat
authors.forename: Panita
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pathipvanich
authors.forename: Pathom
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sawanpanyalert
authors.forename: Koya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ariyoshi
authors.forename: Wattana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Auwanit
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011995:Recombination, Genetic