Differences in HIV type 1 RNA plasma load profile of closely related cocirculating Ethiopian subtype C strains: C and C'.
Two HIV-1 subtype C subclusters have been identified in Ethiopia (C and C') with little knowledge regarding their biological or clinical differences. We longitudinally monitored HIV-1 viral loads and CD4(+) T cell counts for 130 subtype C-infected individuals from Ethiopia over 5 years. The genetic subclusters C and C' were determined and comparisons were made between the groups. None of the study individuals received antiretroviral therapy. Subcluster C' was found to be the more prevalent (72.3%) genotype circulating. Individuals infected with subcluster C' harbored higher viral loads in comparison to subcluster C-infected individuals when the CD4(+) T cell counts were high (500-900 cells/mm(3)), whereas at low CD4(+) T cell counts (0-150 cells/mm(3)) individuals infected with subcluster C viruses showed higher viral loads. We identified a greater number of deaths among individuals infected with subcluster C viruses in comparison to C'. Our results indicate that infection with subcluster C viruses leads to a more rapid onset of disease, despite the initial lower HIV-1 RNA plasma loads. Additionally, the higher viral loads seen for HIV-1 subcluster C' infections at higher CD4(+) T cell counts can help explain the higher prevalence of this subtype in Ethiopia.
Ayele
Workenesh
W
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mekonnen
Yared
Y
Messele
Tsehaynesh
T
Mengistu
Yohannes
Y
Tsegaye
Aster
A
Bakker
Margreet
M
Berkhout
Ben
B
Dorigo-Zetsma
Wendelien
W
Wolday
Dawit
D
Goudsmit
Jaap
J
Coutinho
Roel
R
de Baar
Michel
M
Paxton
William A
WA
Pollakis
Georgios
G
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral