title: Implementation of a multiregion hybridization assay to characterize HIV-1 strains detected among injecting drug users in Manipur, India.
abstract: We have implemented the latest technology of a multiregion hybridization assay (MHAbce, version 2) for the molecular characterization of HIV-1 among injecting drug users (IDUs) of Manipur, India. This study provides a more detailed analysis on the basis of probes designed from eight different genomic regions of HIV-1, to achieve a clear picture of HIV-1 genomic diversity in Manipur. Out of 30 samples, 15 were found to be of subtype C, 1 of subtype B, 5 with dual-probe reactivity, 8 with multigenomic recombination pattern and 1 sample showed both dual-probe reactivity and multigenomic variations. In contrast, the heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) with respect to gag and env genes revealed 21 samples to be of subtype C (gag C/env C), 3 samples of subtype B (gag B/env B) and 6 samples of B/C recombinants (gag C/env B). MHAbce illustrates the occurrence of inter- and intragenomic variants and dual infection in an IDU population from India. It also indicates the possibility of the presence of new circulating recombinant forms of HIV-1 strains, which might have been difficult to trace by HMA alone.
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Calcutta, India.
authors.forename: Roni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Satarupa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Ranajoy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mullick
authors.forename: N Brajachand
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Kamalesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Sekhar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
mesh_terms: D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*