title: Differences in HIV type 1 RNA plasma load profile of closely related cocirculating Ethiopian subtype C strains: C and C'.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Workenesh
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ayele
authors.forename: Yared
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mekonnen
authors.forename: Tsehaynesh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Messele
authors.forename: Yohannes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mengistu
authors.forename: Aster
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsegaye
authors.forename: Margreet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berkhout
authors.forename: Wendelien
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dorigo-Zetsma
authors.forename: Dawit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolday
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudsmit
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Baar
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Paxton
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pollakis
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral