Study of HIV-1 subtypes in serodiscordant couples attending an integrated counselling and testing centre in Mumbai using heteroduplex mobility analysis and DNA sequencing.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalent subtypes of HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples.


METHODS
Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC), Department of Microbiology.


METHODS
Prospective pilot study.


METHODS
Thirty HIV-1 serodiscordant couples.


METHODS
a) Documentation of HIV-1 infection in one partner and seronegative status in the other, current history of continued unprotected sexual activity within the partnership, demonstration that they have been in a partnership for at least 1 year and are not currently on highly active antiretroviral therapy HAART; b) willingness of both partners to provide written informed consent including consent to continued couple counselling for 3 months.


METHODS
HIV-1 subtyping was carried out by heteroduplex mobility analysis (HMA) by amplifying env region; and DNA sequencing by amplifying gag region.


RESULTS
HIV-1 env gene was amplified successfully in 10/30 samples; gag gene, in 25/30 samples; and both env and gag gene were amplified successfully in 5/30 samples. HIV-1 subtype C was detected from 21 samples; subtype B, from 7; and subtype A, from 2. Sample from 1 positive partner was detected as subtype C by env HMA and subtype B by gag sequencing.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1 subtype C was found to be the predominant subtype of HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples attending our ICTC, followed by HIV-1 subtype B and HIV-1 subtype A, respectively. DNA sequencing was found to be the most reliable method for determining the subtypes of HIV-1.
Mehta
P R
PR
Department of Microbiology, Seth GSMC & KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India. prm.kem@gmail.com
Nema
S
S
Paranjpe
S
S
Ingole
N
N
Wanjare
S
S
Nataraj
G
G
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D003376:Counseling; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015752:Genes, env; D015750:Genes, gag; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020180:Heteroduplex Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*
D004279:DNA, Viral