Frequency of subtype B and F1 dual infection in HIV-1 positive, Brazilian men who have sex with men

Author(s):Show less -

Soares de Oliveira, Ana Carolina ^[1] ; de Farias, Rodrigo Pessoa ; da Costa, Antonio Charlys ^[1] ; Sauer, Mariana Melillo ^[2] ; Bassichetto, Katia Cristina ^[3] ; Santos Oliveira, Solange Maria ; Costa, Priscilla Ramos ^[2] ; Tomiyama, Claudia ^[2] ; Iwashita Tomiyama, Helena Tomoko ^[2] ; Sabino, Ester Cerdeira ^[4] ; Kallas, Esper Georges ^[2] ; Sanabani, Sabri Saeed ^{[5, 6]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Translat Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Div Clin Immunol & Allergy, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Publ Hlth Dept Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Infect Dis, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Pathol, Clin Lab, Hosp Clin, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: VIROLOGY JOURNAL; v. 9, SEP 29 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

Background: Because various HIV vaccination studies are in progress, it is important to understand how often inter- and intra-subtype co/superinfection occurs in different HIV-infected high-risk groups. This knowledge would aid in the development of future prevention programs. In this cross-sectional study, we report the frequency of subtype B and F1 co-infection in a clinical group of 41 recently HIV-1 infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methodology: Proviral HIV-1 DNA was isolated from subject's peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes that were obtained at the time of enrollment. Each subject was known to be infected with a subtype B virus as determined in a previous study. A small fragment of the integrase gene (nucleotide 4255-4478 of HXB2) was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using subclade F1 specific primers. The PCR results were further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Viral load (VL) data were extrapolated from the medical records of each patient. Results: For the 41 samples from MSM who were recently infected with subtype B virus, it was possible to detect subclade F1 proviral DNA in five patients, which represents a co-infection rate of 12.2%. In subjects with dual infection, the median VL was 5.3 x 10(4) copies/ML, whereas in MSM that were infected with only subtype B virus the median VL was 3.8 x 10(4) copies/ML (p > 0.8). Conclusions: This study indicated that subtype B and F1 co-infection occurs frequently within the HIV-positive MSM population as suggested by large number of BF1 recombinant viruses reported in Brazil. This finding will help us track the epidemic and provide support for the development of immunization strategies against the HIV. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 04/15856-9 - Prospective analysis of the virological and immunological characteristics in individuals with recent HIV-1 infection in the cities of São Paulo and Santos
• Grantee: Ricardo Sobhie Diaz
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants