Variability of HIV-1 Genomes among Children and Adolescents from São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

BackgroundGenetic variability is a major feature of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and considered the key factor to frustrating efforts to halt the virus epidemic. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic variability of HIV-1 strains among children and adolescents born from 1992 to 2009 in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.MethodologyPlasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 51 HIV-1-positive children and adolescents on ART followed between September 1992 and July 2009. After extraction, the genetic materials were used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the viral near full length genomes (NFLGs) from 5 overlapped fragments. NFLGs and partial amplicons were directly sequenced and data were phylogenetically inferred.ResultsOf the 51 samples studied, the NFLGs and partial fragments of HIV-1 from 42 PBMCs and 25 plasma were successfully subtyped. Results based on proviral DNA revealed that 22 (52.4%) patients were infected with subtype B, 16 (38.1%) were infected with BF1 mosaic variants and 4 (9.5%) were infected with sub-subtype F1. All the BF1 recombinants were unique and distinct from any previously identified unique or circulating recombinant forms in South America. Evidence of dual infections was detected in 3 patients coinfected with the same or distinct HIV-1 subtypes. Ten of the 31 (32.2%) and 12 of the 21 (57.1%) subjects with recovered proviral and plasma, respectively, protease sequences were infected with major mutants resistant to protease inhibitors. The V3 sequences of 14 patients with available sequences from PBMC/or plasma were predicted to be R5-tropic virus except for two patients who harbored an X4 strain.ConclusionsThe high proportion of HIV-1 BF1 recombinant, coinfection rate and vertical transmission in Brazil merits urgent attention and effective measures to reduce the transmission of HIV among spouses and sex partners.

Dental students’ reports of occupational exposures to potentially infectious biological material in a Brazilian School of Dentistry

“…There is no vaccine against HIV, and AIDS is still a major public health challenge, aggravated by the possibility of co-infection of HIV and Hepatitis B and C viruses. Such diseases share the same forms of transmission, and clinical studies conducted in Brazil show that, among HIV/AIDS-infected individuals, almost 6% are positive for HBV and from 5 to 18% are positive for HCV (10).…”

“…Another important issue is related to the fact that HIV has mutated, and diagnostic tests -especially rapid tests used in the first hours after the accident -need to be more sensitive and specific in order to track the current genetic diversity 10 . Dental schools are faced with a big challenge in seeking better strategies to raise awareness and self-efficacy, among dental students and the entire community of teachers and counselors, to avoid the threats occupational exposures to biological material may pose.…”

Molecular Characterization of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Women and Their Vertically Infected Children

“…Similar findings were found when more than one genomic region was evaluated. [10][11][12] The sequences of all mother-child pairs were in subtype accordance, including those harboring BF recombinant strains. It is likely that the recombinants exhibit some advantages over parental strains with regard to any changes in tropism and viral fitness, making them potentially more virulent and more efficiently transmitted.…”

Occupational exposure to contaminated biological material: perceptions and feelings experienced among dental students

“…There is no vaccine against HIV, and AIDS is a disease that continues to be a challenge to public health, with 37 thousand new cases per annum in Brazil, of which 7 thousand occur in the State of São Paulo 20 . Recent studies have shown that the AIDS virus has undergone mutations 21 . The diagnostic tests -especially the fast tests used in the first hours after the accident -would need to be more sensitive and specific to trace the contemporary genetic diversity.…”