Distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants in selected population groups and correlation of drug resistance mutations with emergence of recombinants in Brazil

• Grant number: 01/09647-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2002
• End date: March 31, 2004
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Sobhie Diaz
• Grantee: Luiz Mário Ramos Janini
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 98/14381-4 - Determination of genotypic resistance and genetic diversity in cases of recent infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1), AP.TEM

Abstract

The distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants in clinical specimens from 5 population groups in Brazil will be investigated. Four of these population groups are located in the state of Sao Paulo which has the majority of HIV-1 infection cases in the country, One group is located in the north-east region, in the State of Para, and probably reflects a later stage in the Brazilian epidemic. Using different molecular and cell biology approaches in conjunction with molecular biology software's designed for data analysis, temporal (1995 to present) and spatial (Sao Paulo, Santos, Belem (PA)) trends in Brazilian epidemic will be evaluated. The presence and distribution of drug-resistant HIV-1 strains circulating will be investigated for patients under antiretroviral therapy in comparison with historical groups that are not. Finally, the relationship of antiretroviral drugs and emergence of recombinants will be explored. Analysis of drug-resistance mutations will be conducted the Los Alamos National Laboratory drug resistance mutation database which is available through the internet (www.hiv-web.lanl.gov). The genetic structure of recombinants will be investigated using distance scanning and boot scanning. (AU)