title: Distribution of HIV-1 variants in the Democratic Republic of Congo suggests increase of subtype C in Kinshasa between 1997 and 2002.
abstract: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is characterized by low and stable HIV prevalences and high HIV-1 genetic diversity and is most probably the epicenter of HIV-1 group M. Our major goal was to study the distribution of HIV-1 variants over a 5-year period against a background of political instability and civil war. A total of 288 HIV-1-positive samples collected in 2002 from sentinel population groups in an HIV serosurveillance study performed in 4 cities (Kinshasa [capital city], Mbuji-Mayi [south], Lubumbashi [southeast], and Kisangani [northeast]) were genetically characterized by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the V3-V5 env region. The results were compared with those obtained in 1997. Similarly, as in 1997, an extremely high genetic diversity of HIV-1 strains overall and a heterogeneous geographic distribution were seen in 2002. All subtypes and several circulating recombinant forms were present, high intrasubtype diversity was observed, and 5.6% of the samples could not be classified. In each geographic region of the DRC, the genetic diversity was significantly higher than in neighboring countries. Comparison of subtype distribution in similar population groups in Kinshasa in 1997 and 2002 revealed an overall increase of subtype C in Kinshasa from 2.1% to 9.7% and, more precisely, from 0% to 18.9% in female sex workers (P = 0.013). Genetic characterization of HIV-positive samples from sentinel surveys adds significant additional information on new trends in the HIV epidemic. These changes could have implications regarding the spread of HIV infection in the DRC as well on vaccine and/or treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: UR36, Institut de Recherche pour e Developement (IRD), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mulanga
authors.forename: Samuel Edidi
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bazepeo
authors.forename: Jeanne Kasali
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mwamba
authors.forename: Jean-Willy
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tshimpaka
authors.forename: Mulowayi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kashi
authors.forename: Nicasia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mama
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lepira
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delaporte
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peeters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D015752:Genes, env; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D006678:HIV / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120