HIV-1 variants in South and South-East Asia

Int J STD AIDS. 1995 Mar-Apr;6(2):117-20. doi: 10.1177/095646249500600211.

Abstract

HIV spread in South and South-East Asia is most alarming, and genetic variability of HIV-1 is an important consideration in vaccine development. In this study, we examined the third variable (V3) region of env gene of HIV-1 variants prevalent in Thailand, Malaysia, India, and the Philippines. By phylogenetic tree analyses, an HIV-1 variant from an injecting drug user (IDU) in Thailand belonged to subtype B, and HIV-1 variants from 2 IDUs in Malaysia were classified into 2 subtypes, B and E. One HIV-1 variant from a male homosexual in the Philippines belonged to subtype B. Out of 8 HIV-1 variants from sexually transmitted disease patients in India, 7 belonged to subtype C, and one to subtype A. Although the total number of individuals examined in this study was limited, 4 HIV-1 subtypes were found in South and South-East Asia and large international movements of HIV-1-infected individuals in this region could induce global dissemination of these HIV-1 variants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Female
  • Genes, Viral / genetics
  • Genetic Variation*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Homosexuality, Male
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Malaysia / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Philippines / epidemiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Sex Work
  • Thailand / epidemiology