No abstract

This study analyzed the genes pol and env to determine the genetic variability of HIV-1 in Central Brazil. Forty-one isolates of HIV-1-infected individuals had protease, reverse transcriptase, and C2C3/ env amplified by nested PCR and sequenced. The subtype was determined by the program REGA and phylogenetic analyses. The samples identified as putative recombinant forms were analyzed by SimPlot. A high prevalence of subtype B (95.1%) was observed, followed by mosaic viruses B/F (4.9%). The amino acid sequences from 30 HIV-1 isolates were analyzed for the antigenic intrasubtype diversity. The most prevalent gp120 V3 loop motif was the GPGR (United States/Europe) (43.3%), described in B and F subtypes, followed by the GPGK tetrapeptide (10%). The Brazilian variant B" (GWGR), GFGR, and GLGR tetrapeptides were found in 6.7%. Other V3 variants were found in eight isolates (26.7%). Phylogenetic tree analysis was also performed in order to verify the relationship of the HIV-1 samples from Central Brazil with other HIV-1 sequences that circulate in Brazil. The subtype B sequences from Central Brazil formed a polyphyletic cluster in the tree, indicating that these strains are similar to those from other geographic regions. These results contribute to the understanding of HIV in Brazil, and may prove useful for the development of vaccine candidates.

Transmission of bloodborne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) to healthcare workers at emergency departments is a matter of great concern. 1,2 The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of seropositivity to HIV-1, HBV, and HCV among patients admitted in the Clinical Emergency Unit and the Trauma Unit of a tertiary hospital and reference trauma center in the Federal District of Brazil from November to December 1995. During this period, blood samples drawn for routine examinations from patients over 11 years of age admitted to those units were tested anonymously for HIV-1, HBV, and HCV serologies. Eight hundred twenty-six blood samples were collected: 549 from patients admitted to the Clinical Emergency Unit and 277 from patients admitted to the Trauma Unit. The prevalence ratio of bloodborne viruses in this population was compared with that obtained at the Central Blood Bank of Brasilia during the same period in 1995. Each serum sample was tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV-1, HBV, and HCV in the Health Institute of the Federal District according to standard techniques.