Complex patterns of the HIV-1 epidemic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: evidence for expansion of circulating recombinant form CRF33_01B and detection of multiple other recombinants

Virology. 2007 Oct 25;367(2):288-97. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.05.033. Epub 2007 Jun 29.

Abstract

The HIV protease-reverse transcriptase (PR-RT) (1047 bp), gp120-env (891 bp) and gp41-env (547 bp) regions from the plasma of 115 HIV-1-infected patients in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia were sequenced. Detailed phylogenetic and bootscanning analyses were performed to determine the mosaic structure of the HIV-1 strains and their recombination breakpoint(s). Among the 50 patient samples in which all three regions could be amplified, the HIV-1 CRF01_AE subtype (46%) was predominant followed by subtypes B (10%) and B' (6%). A total of 9/50 (18%) patients were infected with a CRF01_AE/B inter-subtype recombinant, displaying a recombinant form (RF)(PR-RT), CRF01_AE(gp120-env) and CRF01_AE(gp41-env). This RF was derived from the Thai variants of CRF01_AE and B' subtype, with two distinct B' subtype segments in the backbone of CRF01_AE, similar to the newly identified CRF33_01B. In addition, one sample demonstrated a close structural relationship with the new CRF33_01B in the PR-RT region but displayed B' segment in part of the env region (RF(PR-RT), CRF01_AE/B'(gp120-env) and B'(gp41-env)) indicating continuing evolution of CRF33_01B. The remaining 18% of samples were identified as unique recombinant forms (URFs).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Genes, env / genetics
  • Genotype
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / genetics*
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / genetics
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Malaysia / epidemiology
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Reassortant Viruses / genetics*

Substances

  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase