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Abstract
HIV-1 Subtype Diversity among STI patients in Nairobi
Lihana R.W.1, Khamadi S.A.1, Songok E.M.1, Okoth F.A.1
Introduction: In Kenya, HIV-1 epidemic is characterized by emergence of new HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants. With a view that there is increasing diversity of the virus in infected patients, we carried out a surveillance of HIV-1 subtypes in Nairobi focusing on an STI population in order to identify the current trend of HIV-1 evolution in Nairobi.
Methods: 5ml of blood were collected from consenting patients attending STI clinic in November 2003 – May 2004. Blood was separated into plasma and lymphocytes: Genomic DNA was extracted from the lymphocytes using DNAzol reagent and ethanol precipitation. Parts of the pol (288bp Intergrase) and env (550bp C2V3) regions were amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers for each region. Amplified samples were sequenced directly using BigDye technology and data generated used to construct phylogenetic trees.
Results: 70 samples were successfully sequenced and results showed the following (pol/env) subtypes as circulating among the patients: A1/A1 (50%), D/D (20%), A1/D (7.5%) C/C (12.5%), A1/C (5%) A1/G – (CRF02_AG) (5%). 11 samples in subtype A showed a great diversity reflecting possible recombination among various subtypes.
Conclusions: Viral evolution is evident in this population. Prevalence of recombination among this population is comparatively increasing with possible emergence of CRF_02-AG that had never been earlier reported in Kenya. The newly identified CRF may be an indicator that more HIV-1 evolutions and/or recombinations are on the increase in Nairobi. With hope that there will be increased use of antiretrovirals coupled with increased transmissions among infected individuals with time (including inter racial transmissions), it is evident that drug resistant strains will come up which will in the long run either evolve into other more virulent subtypes or form complex recombinants that will change evolutionary lineages among the prevalent subtypes. This has direct influence on vaccine design and AIDS management.
The 3rd IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment
Abstract no.
MoPe14.2B01
Suggested Citation
"LihanaR.W., et al.
HIV-1 Subtype Diversity among STI patients in Nairobi.
Poster Exhibition:
The 3rd IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment:
Abstract no.
MoPe14.2B01"
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