Circulation of novel HIV type 1 A, B/C, and F subtypes in Argentina

• Published in: AIDS research and human retroviruses Vol. 21; no. 2; p. 158
• Main Authors: Aulicino, Paula C, Kopka, Julieta, Mangano, Andrea M, Rocco, Carlos, Iacono, Marisa, Bologna, Rosa, Sen, Luisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2005
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Argentina; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; HIV Long Terminal Repeat; HIV-1 - classification; HIV-1 - genetics; Humans; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Argentina
• ISSN: 0889-2229; 1931-8405
• DOI: 10.1089/aid.2005.21.158

The Argentine HIV-1 epidemic is considered to be represented mainly by subtype B and diverse B/F recombinants, with apparent absence of pure subtype F. In this study we describe three novel HIV-1 variants isolated from four infants born in different and distant provinces of Argentina. Partial analysis of different gene fragments spanning 18.5-40.8% of the HIV-1 complete genome revealed two subtype A HIV-1 strains in siblings, a B/C recombinant with a novel mosaic structure, and a putative subtype F. Characteristic patterns of genomic and amino acid sequences of the newly reported subtype F isolate suggest a closer genetic relationship to Argentine B/F recombinants than any other subtype F strain described so far, while the A and B/C subtypes found correspond to unusual genotypes in Argentina. Understanding the origin, diversity, and spread of HIV-1 strains worldwide will be necessary for the development of an effective vaccine approach.