title: Identification of HIV type 1 group N infections in a husband and wife in Cameroon: viral genome sequences provide evidence for horizontal transmission.
abstract: HIV-1 is classified into three groups, M (major), N (non-M non-O), and O (outlier); each group arose from a separate transmission of SIVcpz into humans. HIV-1 group N was recently discovered and infections with this virus are rare with only eight documented cases. All group N infections have been found in Cameroon and there is no evidence of direct linkage between the infected patients. We report here the identification of HIV-1 group N infections in a husband and wife. The group N infection in the husband, 1131-03, was identified first based on seroreactivity in peptide EIAs and confirmed by PCR amplification of group N viral sequences. Subsequently the wife, 1015-04, was evaluated and confirmed to also be infected with a group N virus. Near full-length viral genomes were amplified and sequenced from each patient's specimen. The low level of diversity between the two viral sequences provides evidence of horizontal transmission of group N from one spouse to the other. Patient 1131-03 was receiving antiviral therapy consisting of reverse transcriptase inhibitors; the treatment appears effective for suppression of group N viral replication based on apparently low viral load in plasma specimens collected from the patient and the absence of drug resistance mutations in RT sequences amplified from 1131-03. This report brings to 10 the number of group N infections identified and to 5 the number of group N genomes sequenced. Although group N infections continue to be rare, group N is a pathogenic virus and its prevalence needs to be monitored.
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6015, USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Ruthie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallari
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ngansop
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mbanya
authors.forename: Nicaise
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ndembi
authors.forename: Lazare
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaptué
authors.forename: Lutz G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gürtler
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodelle
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schochetman
authors.forename: Sushil G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Devare
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000737:chemistry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping; D018454:Spouses
chemical_list: D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments