AEGiS-15IAC: Evidence of in vivo selection for intersubtype recombinant forms of HIV in a dually infected patient.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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Evidence of in vivo selection for intersubtype recombinant forms of HIV in a dually infected patient.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. MoOrA1009)

Songok EM, Lwembe RM, Lihana RW, Kobayashi K, Ndembi N, Kiptoo MK, Oishi I, Genga IO, Ichimura H
KEMRI, Nairobi, Kenya

BACKGROUND: HIV group M viruses occur as either pure subtypes or recombinants. Recombination is believed to arise due to multiple infections with different subtypes and it has been suggested that in areas where multiples subtypes co-circulate, there is a tendency for selection for recombinant forms. Design: To investigate the in vivo evolution of recombinant HIV and its selection, we followed up a mother in Kenya who was initially co-infected with subtypes A and D. Blood samples were obtained in 1996 and again in 2002 and HIV pol and en vgenes were amplified by PCR, cloned, sequenced and phylogenetically analysed.

RESULTS: Twelve clones were successfully sequenced per gene fragment from each sample. Of the sample obtained in 1996, clones clustered with either subtype A or subtype D in both env and pol, however of the clones obtained in 2002, pol gene clustered only with Subtype A reference strain while the env gene clones clustered only with Subtype D reference strain. This denoted the emergence and dominance of A/D recombinant form. Conclusion We infer that in HIV infected individuals co-infected with both subtype A and Subtype D, there is a high probability of recombinantion and selection for the A/D recombinant form.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Genes, env, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Genes, pol, HIV Envelope Protein gp120, Selection (Genetics), HIV Core Protein p24, Recombination, Genetic, Infection, HIV Antigens, HIV Protease, HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase, Kenya, Humans, genetics, immunology

040711
MoOrA1009

Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.