HIV Type 1 Genetic Variability in Central Brazil

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.

HIV‐1 primary and secondary antiretroviral drug resistance and genetic diversity among pregnant women from central Brazil

“…This is the first study to describe HIV-1 genetic diversity in central Brazil for four viral genes: env, gag, PR and RT. Previous studies from this geographic region have analyzed either env and gag or PR and RT genes [Stefani et al, 2000;Cerqueira et al, 2004;Pereira et al, 2004Pereira et al, , 2006Stefani et al, 2007;Véras et al, 2007;Cardoso et al, 2009]. In this study, as more HIV-1 genes were analyzed, a higher rate of subtype B and F1 recombinant viruses was observed, similar to what has been described in other reports [Guimarã es et al, 2002;Oliveira et al, 2008].…”

Origin and evolutionary history of HIV-1 subtype C in Brazil

“…In the south-east region the major circulating subtype is B ($70-90%), followed by F1 and BF1 recombinants ($10-30%), and a very small proportion of subtype C (<8%) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. A similar subtype distribution was also observed in the north-east and central-west regions [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. The only study performed to date in the north described a high proportion of subtype F1 and BF1 recombinants ($60%), followed by subtype B infections ($40%) [25].…”

HIV-1 genetic diversity and drug resistance among treatment naïve patients from Southern Brazil: An association of HIV-1 subtypes with exposure categories

“…1 The Brazilian HIV-1 epidemic can be divided in two distinct scenarios. While subtype B prevails in most of the Country, with a secondary occurrence of subtype F1 and BF1 recombinants, [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Southern Brazil presents a distinct pattern with high frequency of subtypes C, B and BC recombinants, following a lower proportion of subtype F1 and BF1 recombinants, [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] comprising 19% of the infected individuals in the Country. The universal access of Brazilian HIV-positive patients to freeof-cost licensed antiretroviral drugs has substantially reduced the AIDS-related mortality.…”