title: HIV-1 Group N: evidence of ongoing transmission in Cameroon.
abstract: An HIV-1 group N infection, 02CM-DJO0135, was identified among specimens collected in 2002 at the D'Joungolo Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Sequences were obtained from viral RNA extracted from plasma for regions of LTR-gag, pol-vif, and env. The virus amplified from the specimen is closely related to a previously reported group N virus, 02CM-DJO0131, that was also collected at this hospital in 2002. Although the viral sequences for the two isolates differ, their close relationship suggests that the two specimens are linked. No patient histories are available for 02CM-DJO0131 and 02CM-DJO0135; the specimens could have been drawn from a husband/wife, mother/child, or a single individual. However, differences in seroreactivity indicate that it is unlikely that the specimens were drawn from the same patient. This report documents the second case that suggests linkage between group N-infected individuals and indicates that there is ongoing transmission of HIV-1 group N in Cameroon.
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064, USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Carole P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: McArthur
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallari
authors.forename: Ruthie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodelle
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beyeme
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: D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral