title: Molecular epidemiology of HIV type 1 subtypes in Rwanda.
abstract: HIV-1 infection is characterized by genetic diversity, with multiple subtypes and recombinant variants circulating, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. During the Rwandan genocide, many women experienced multiple rapes and some became HIV-1 infected. We studied plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 30 infected women comprising two exposure groups: those with numerous contacts, raped multiple times, and women with one lifetime sexual partner and no history of rape. Population-based sequences from gag, pol, and env genes were analyzed to determine HIV-1 subtypes and intersubtype recombination. Individual plasma-derived variants from 12 women were also analyzed. Subtype A was found in 24/30 (80%), intersubtype recombination (AC and AD) in 4/30 (13%), and subtypes C and D in 1/30 each. In two subjects, the pattern of HIV-1 recombination differed between plasma and PBMC-derived sequences. Intersubtype recombination was common, although there were no significant differences in subtype or recombination rates between exposure groups.
authors: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA. kimdar.kemal@einstein.yu.edu
authors: Kimdar S
authors: KS
authors: Kemal
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: Anastos
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Weiser
authors: Christina M
authors: CM
authors: Ramirez
authors: Qiuhu
authors: Q
authors: Shi
authors: Harold
authors: H
authors: Burger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011902:Rape; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C514793:gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus