The Evolving HIV-1 Epidemic in Warao Amerindians Is Dominated by an Extremely High Frequency of CXCR4-Utilizing Strains

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2015 Dec;31(12):1265-8. doi: 10.1089/AID.2015.0155. Epub 2015 Oct 9.

Abstract

We previously reported a high prevalence of HIV-1 infection in Warao Amerindians from Venezuela due to the rapid spread of a single B subtype strain. In this study we evaluated the coreceptor use of the HIV-1 strains infecting this Amerindian community. Sequences of the HIV-1 V3 loop from 56 plasma samples were genotyped for coreceptor use. An extremely high frequency of CXCR4 strains was found among HIV-1-infecting Waraos (47/49, 96%), compared to HIV-1 strains infecting the non-Amerindian Venezuelan population (35/79, 44%, p < 0.00001). Evolutionary analysis showed that a significant number of infections occurred between 1 and 12 months before collection and that a great proportion (50-70%) of HIV-1 transmissions occurred within the very early phase of infection (≤12 months). This is consistent with an initial infection dominated by an X4 strain or a very rapid selection of X4 variants after infection. This Amerindian population also exhibits the highest prevalence of tuberculosis in Venezuela, being synergistically bad prognostic factors for the evolution of morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Epidemics*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / genetics
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / classification*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Indians, Central American
  • Male
  • Plasma / virology
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, HIV / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Venezuela / epidemiology

Substances

  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Receptors, HIV
  • gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1