Authors: Benson Chuks Iweriebor Lufuno Grace Mavhandu Tracy Masebe David Rekosh MarieLouise Hammarskjold Jeffrey M Mphahlele Pascal Obong Bessong
Publish Date: 2011/12/22
Volume: 157, Issue: 3, Pages: 455-465
Abstract
There is paucity of data on the genetic landscape of HIV1 viruses circulating in the Limpopo Province of northeastern South Africa Here we examine the genetic diversity of viruses from BelaBela and Musina two towns with high HIV prevalence Between June 2007 and March 2008 blood samples were collected from antiretroviraldrugnaïve individuals Viruses were analyzed for genetic subtypes and drug resistance mutations All of the viruses in these samples were shown by phylogenetic analysis based on gag p17 gag p24 reverse transcriptase protease and envelope C2C3 gene regions to belong to HIV1 subtype C Two of 44 reverse transcriptase sequences 45 contained N rather than the consensus K at position 103 The K103N mutation is normally associated with resistance to NNRTIs No major mutations were observed in the protease gene However several polymorphisms and amino acid changes normally considered to be minor drug resistance mutations were observed in the protease sequences These results suggest that HIV1 subtype C remains the predominant variant responsible for the epidemic in northeastern South Africa and that the prevalence of drugresistant viruses among the naïve population is lowThe South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative supported this study Additional support was obtained from the National Research Foundation South Africa David Rekosh and MarieLouise Hammarskjold were supported by the Myles H Thaler and Charles Ross Jr Endowed Professorships at the University of Virginia We thank the patients who participated in the study and the nurses Ms Cecile Manhaeve of the Bela Bela HIV Wellness Clinic Ms MS Nedzamba of Madimbo Clinic and Ms HS Nekhavhambe of the Musina HIV Information Centre for recruiting patients and blood sample collection The opinions expressed here are those of the authors
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