title: Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 among the HIV infected people of Manipur, Northeastern India: Emergence of unique recombinant forms.
abstract: According to the Joint National Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the northeastern region of India has the highest HIV prevalence in the country. This study was conducted to determine the current HIV-1 molecular epidemiology of Manipur, a state in northeast India. Blood samples from HIV-1 seropositive subjects were collected between June 2011 and February 2014. The partial regions of HIV-1 genes; pol and tat-vpu-env were independently amplified, sequenced, analyzed, and genotyped. Based on all sequences generated from 110 samples using pol and/or tat-vpu-env gene, the overall HIV-1 genotypes distribution of Manipur was as follows: 65.45% (72/110) subtype C, 32.73% (36/110) unique recombinant forms (URFs), and 1.82% (2/110) subtype B. The distribution of HIV-1 genotypes among the risk groups was: heterosexual: 58.33% (35/60) subtype C, 38.33% (23/60) URFs, and 3.34% (2/60) subtype B; intravenous drug users (IDUs): 85.36% (35/41) subtype C, 9.76% (4/41) URFs, and 4.88% (2/41) subtype B; mother to child (MTC): 50% (3/6) URFs and 50% (3/6) subtype C and blood transfusion: 100% (3/3) subtype C. The findings for the first time revealed the emergence of URFs of HIV-1 in Manipur which is predominant among the sexual and MTC risk groups as compared to IDUs. Taking together, this study illustrated that Manipur is the "recombinant hotspot of HIV" of India. The results will provide the clinical importance for continuous monitoring of HIV-infections in order to design appropriate prevention measures to limit the spread of new HIV infections.
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Molecular Biology Division, Department of Biotechnology, Manipur University, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Adhikarimayum Lakhikumar
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Molecular Biology Division, Department of Biotechnology, Manipur University, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Thiyam Ramsing
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Khuraijam Ranjana
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Devi
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Molecular Biology Division, Department of Biotechnology, Manipur University, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Lisam Shanjukumar
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: epidemiology; human immunodeficiency virus; lentivirus; sexually transmitted disease