AEGiS-08IAC: Identification of additional genetic subgroups of HIV-1 and evidence for geographic intermixing.

8th International AIDS Conference

Amsterdam, Netherlands — July 19-24, 1992

Identification of additional genetic subgroups of HIV-1 and evidence for geographic intermixing.

Int Conf AIDS 1992 Jul 19-24; 8:We49 (abstract no. WeC 1023)
McCutchan F, Louwagie J, van der Groen G, Piot P, Myers G, Burke D; Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Rockville, MD.

BACKGROUND: Genetic variation of HIV-1 and the geographic distribution of genetic variants are important considerations for HIV-1 vaccine development. A global surveillance of HIV-1 isolates is being conducted to supplement and extend the current genetic database for HIV-1.

METHODS: More than two hundred geographically diverse HIV-1 isolates were surveyed for genetic similarity to reference isolates using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) typing procedure. Twenty-four genetically diverse isolates were selected and the complete gag gene was PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced.

RESULTS: A phylogenetic tree of gag DNA sequence relationships among HIV-1 isolates including twenty-four sequences generated from this study and fourteen previously published sequences has been constructed. The geographic origins of the newly added isolates were Belgium (n = 2), Brazil (n = 2), Gabon (n = 8), Ivory Coast (n = 1), Kenya (n = 4), Philippines (n = 1), Somalia (n = 1), Thailand (n = 2), Zaire (n = 1), and Zambia (n = 2). Six genetic subgroups with at least two members and a seventh subgroup containing a single isolate were found. Most of the subgroups contained isolates from more than one continent, and some geographic locales contained members of several subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on genetic relationships in the gag gene, the genetic diversity of HIV-1 appears more extensive that previously appreciated. Several subgroups equidistant from previously sequenced isolates have emerged. Most subgroups have apparently migrated to more than one continent. Geographic dispersal may be playing a significant role in broadening the genetic diversity of HIV-1 in specific locales.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV-1, Genes, gag, Genes, env, Variation (Genetics), Genes, nef, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Genome, Viral, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Philippines, Thailand, Somalia, Gabon, Kenya, Cote d'Ivoire, Belgium, Brazil, genetics, ICA8
920719
WeC1023