title: Four new HIV-1 group N isolates from Cameroon: Prevalence continues to be low.
abstract: Analysis of 3555 HIV-seropositive specimens, collected in Cameroon from 2002 to 2006, led to the identification of four HIV-1 group N infections based on differential seroreactivity to HIV env-derived peptides and proteins and confirmation by nucleic acid amplification. Group N prevalence continues to be low accounting for only 0.1% of HIV infections in Cameroon. Near full-length genomic sequences were obtained from viral RNA or proviral DNA by PCR amplification of overlapping fragments for three isolates, 06CM-U14296, 06CM-U14842, and 02CM-SJGddd. Two genome segments, partial pol and env-nef, were obtained from viral RNA for the fourth isolate, 02CM-TIM0217. With the four group N isolates identified in this study and group N sequences previously reported, eight near full-length and five partial genome sequences are now available. Despite genetic divergence from HIV-1 group M and O, all of the group N infections evaluated by five commercial HIV immunoassays were detected.
authors.affiliation: Abbott Diagnostics, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064, USA.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallari
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodelle
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ngansop
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Makamche
authors.forename: Nicaise
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ndembi
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mbanya
authors.forename: Lazare
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaptué
authors.forename: Lutz G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gürtler
authors.forename: Carole P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: McArthur
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; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015995:Prevalence; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral