title: Regional spread of HIV-1 M subtype B in middle-aged patients by random env-C2V4 region sequencing.
abstract: A transmission cluster of HIV-1 M:B was identified in 11 patients with a median age of 52 (range 26-65) in North-East Germany by C2V4 region sequencing of the env gene of HIV-1, who-except of one-were not aware of any risky behaviour. The 10 male and 1 female patients deteriorated immunologically, according to their information made available, within 4 years after a putative HIV acquisition. Nucleic acid sequence analysis showed a R5 virus in all patients and in 7 of 11 a crown motif of the V3 loop, GPGSALFTT, which is found rarely. Analysis of formation of this cluster showed that there is still a huge discrepancy between awareness and behaviour regarding HIV transmission in middle-aged patients, and that a local outbreak can be detected by nucleic acid analysis of the hypervariable env region.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Paul Ehrlich Str 40, 69596, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stürmer
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fritzsche
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reisinger
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doelken
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Hans W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Doerr
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.forename: Lutz G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gürtler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus