High HIV type 1 group M pol diversity and low rate of antiretroviral resistance mutations among the uniformed services in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For the first time the genetic diversity among the uniformed personnel in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country that has experienced military conflicts since 1998 and in which the global HIV-1/M pandemic started, has now been documented. A total of 94 HIV-1-positive samples, collected in 2007 in Kinshasa garrison settings from informed consenting volunteers, were genetically characterized in the pol region (protease and RT). An extensive diversity was observed, with 51% of the strains corresponding to six pure subtypes (A 23%, C 13.8%, D, G, H, J, and untypable), 15% corresponding to nine different CRFs (01, 02, 11, 13, 25, 26, 37, 43, and 45), and 34% being unique recombinants with one-third being complex mosaic viruses involving three or more different subtypes/CRFs. Only one strain harbored a single mutation, I54V, associated with drug resistance to protease inhibitors. Due to their high mobility and potential risk behavior, HIV infections in military personnel can lead to an even more complex epidemic in the DRC and to a possible increase of subtype C.
Global Viral Forecasting Initiative, San Francisco, California, USA.
Cyrille F
CF
Djoko
Anne W
AW
Rimoin
Nicole
N
Vidal
Ubald
U
Tamoufe
Nathan D
ND
Wolfe
Christelle
C
Butel
Matthew
M
LeBreton
Felix M
FM
Tshala
Patrick K
PK
Kayembe
Jean Jacques
JJ
Muyembe
Samuel
S
Edidi-Basepeo
Brian L
BL
Pike
Joseph N
JN
Fair
Wilfred F
WF
Mbacham
Karen E
KE
Saylors
Eitel
E
Mpoudi-Ngole
Eric
E
Delaporte
Michael
M
Grillo
Martine
M
Peeters
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015751:Genes, pol / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents