HIV type 1 sequence diversity and dual infections in Kenya.
As vertical transmission of HIV-1 is an ongoing problem in East Africa, we analyzed HIV-1 strains of infected mothers, from Kisumu, Kenya. We sequenced the gag and gp120 regions from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 15 HIV-infected mothers attending an antenatal clinic. PCR, cloning, bootscanning, using the program Simplot, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to assign subtypes and identify recombinants. Our analyses showed two dual infections from patients who had infections with pure subtypes and recombinants subtype D. In addition, we also noted the presence of subsubtype A1 and A2, as well as unique recombinants in this area. These results imply that the HIV epidemic in western Kenya is a dynamic one and is continually evolving. Therefore, continued monitoring of the epidemic in this region is necessary if a vaccine for the area is to be developed.
Steain
Megan C
MC
Retroviral Genetics Laboratory, Center for Virus Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Westmead NSW 2145, Sydney, Australia.
Wang
Bin
B
Yang
Chunfu
C
Shi
Ya-Ping
YP
Nahlen
Bernard
B
Lal
Renu B
RB
Saksena
Nitin K
NK
D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011995:Recombination, Genetic