title: HIV type 1 origin and transmission dynamics among different risk groups in sardinia: molecular epidemiology within the close boundaries of an Italian island.
abstract: In Italy, the HIV-1 epidemic is still mainly sustained by the subtype B genetic form, although other and novel subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) have been reported. A total of 215 HIV-1 pol gene sequences were collected between 1992 and 2010. Multiple alignments spanning subtype-specific HIV-1 B pol sequences were analyzed by Bayesian phylogenetic methods. Subtype B represented 90.7% (n=195) of the sequences. Three main clusters were detected. The root of the tree dated to 1987. Most of the observed viral gene flow events occurred from heterosexual to intravenous drug users (IDUs). Phylogenetic and molecular clock analysis showed an early HIV-1 subtype B introduction in the mid-1980s and dissemination within local risk-specific clusters. This is the first study to describe in detail the HIV-1 molecular epidemiology in one of the largest islands in the European basin. The future potential of the Sardinian epidemic as a hub between Southern and Northern Europe has to been considered.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious, Parasite and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Italian Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccozzi
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Madeddu
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Presti
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovanetti
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Budroni
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babudieri
authors.forename: Maria Stella
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.forename: Gianguglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zehender
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus