HIV genetic diversity in Cameroon: possible public health importance.
To monitor the evolving molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of HIV in a country where many distinct strains cocirculate, we performed genetic analyses on sequences from 75 HIV-1-infected Cameroonians: 74 were group M and 1 was group O. Of the group M sequences, 74 were classified into the following env gp41 subtypes or recombinant forms: CRF02 (n = 54), CRF09 (n = 2), CRF13 (n = 2), A (n = 5), CRF11 (n = 4), CRF06 (n = 1), G (n = 2), F2 (n = 2), and E (n = 1, CRF01), and 1 was a JG recombinant. Comparison of phylogenies for 70 matched gp41 and protease sequences showed inconsistent classifications for 18 (26%) strains. Our data show that recombination is rampant in Cameroon with recombinant viruses continuing to recombine, adding to the complexity of circulating HIV strains. This expanding genetic diversity raises public health concerns for the ability of diagnostic assays to detect these unique HIV mosaic variants and for the development of broadly effective HIV vaccines.
Ndongmo
Clement B
CB
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Pieniazek
Danuta
D
Holberg-Petersen
Mona
M
Holm-Hansen
Carol
C
Zekeng
Leopold
L
Jeansson
Stig L
SL
Kaptue
Lazare
L
Kalish
Marcia L
ML
D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41