Defining the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission genetic bottleneck in a region with multiple circulating subtypes and recombinant forms

Nofemela, A.; Bandawe, G.; Thebus, R.; Marais, J.; Wood, N.; Hoffmann, O.; Maboko, L.; Hoelscher, M.; Woodman, Z.; Williamson, C.

Virology 415(2): 107-113

2011


ISSN/ISBN: 1096-0341
PMID: 21531432
DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2010.12.027
Document Number: 219370
The Mbeya region of Tanzania has a genetically complex HIV epidemic with multiple subtypes and recombinant forms circulating, together with a high frequency of dual infections with more than one subtype. This study aimed to determine whether this impacted the HIV-1 transmission bottleneck. A total of 210 env sequences from 22 participants were generated from recently infected women from Mbeya using the single genome amplification approach. Participants were infected with subtypes C (n=9), A (n=4), or D (n=1), and recombinants AC (n=4), CD (n=2), AD (n=1), or ACD (n=1). Sixteen participants (73%) were infected with a single variant; five (23%) with multiple variants; and one (4%) was dually infected. Thus the frequency of single variant infections was similar to cohorts located in genetically restricted subtype B or C epidemics, suggesting that multiple circulating subtypes and unique recombinant forms do not have a significant impact on the transmission bottleneck.

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Defining the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission genetic bottleneck in a region with multiple circulating subtypes and recombinant forms