High genetic diversity of HIV-1 viruses in Macao, China.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the molecular epidemiology of recently diagnosed HIV-1 infection in Macao for better understanding the epidemiology in this Chinese city, in context of its relationship with other countries in Asia and the rest of the world.


METHODS
Serum samples of HIV positive cases reported between 2005 and 2007 were collected from the Macao Public Health Laboratory. HIV genotype was determined by phylogenetic analysis of sequences from gag, RT, and env regions.


RESULTS
A total of 30 HIV positive samples were genotyped. The HIV-1 viruses circulating in Macao were characterized by their relatively high genetic diversity. CRF01_AE was predominant (56%), followed by subtype B (13%), CRF12_BF (10%), G/CRF12_BF, A1/CRF10_AD and CRF07_BC, of which CRF12_BF and G/CRF12_BF were first reported in Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic analysis showed that there was no clear clustering of CRF01_AE strains but a distinct CRF12_BF cluster associated with injection drug use could be delineated.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that there were multiple introductions of HIV strains in Macao that have been circulating for an extended period of time, superimposed by an outbreak in injection drug users.
Tan
Yi
Y
Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong, China.
Chan
Desmond
D
Chan
Denise
D
Ip
Peng Kei
PK
Lam
Chong
C
Fong
Nga Yin
NY
Tsui
Stephen Kwok-Wing
SK
Lee
Shui Shan
SS
D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008256:Macau / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017385:Sequence Homology; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
D012367:RNA, Viral; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C514824:reverse transcriptase, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase