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.
Djoko
Cyrille F
CF
Global Viral Forecasting Initiative, San Francisco, California, USA.
Rimoin
Anne W
AW
Vidal
Nicole
N
Tamoufe
Ubald
U
Wolfe
Nathan D
ND
Butel
Christelle
C
LeBreton
Matthew
M
Tshala
Felix M
FM
Kayembe
Patrick K
PK
Muyembe
Jean Jacques
JJ
Edidi-Basepeo
Samuel
S
Pike
Brian L
BL
Fair
Joseph N
JN
Mbacham
Wilfred F
WF
Saylors
Karen E
KE
Mpoudi-Ngole
Eitel
E
Delaporte
Eric
E
Grillo
Michael
M
Peeters
Martine
M
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