Presence of diverse human immunodeficiency virus type 1 viral variants in Cameroon

• Published in: AIDS research and human retroviruses Vol. 16; no. 13; p. 1319
• Main Authors: Fonjungo, P N, Mpoudi, E N, Torimiro, J N, Alemnji, G A, Eno, L T, Nkengasong, J N, Gao, F, Rayfield, M, Folks, T M, Pieniazek, D, Lal, R B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2000
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Cameroon - epidemiology; Gene Products, pol - genetics; Genetic Variation - genetics; HIV Core Protein p24 - genetics; HIV Envelope Protein gp120; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 - genetics; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1 - classification; HIV-1 - genetics; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Peptide Fragments; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Cameroon
• ISSN: 0889-2229; 1931-8405
• DOI: 10.1089/08892220050117087

Phylogenetic analysis of the gp41 region of 123 HIV-1-seropositive specimens from Cameroon showed that 89 were subtype A (71% of these sequences were IbNg-like), 12 (10%) were subtype D, 11 (9%) were subtype G, 5 (4%; closely related to subtype F2) were subtype F, 1 was subtype H, 2 (1.6%) remained unclassifiable, while 3 were group O. Further analysis of the two unclassifiable specimens in gag(p24), pol(prot), and env (C2V3 or gp41) showed that one (98CM19) was a complex mosaic between subtype A in p24 and subtype J prot, and unclassifiable in env (C2V3 or gp41). The second, 98CM63, clustered distinctly from all known subtypes in p24, prot, C2V3, or gp41. 98CM63 clustered with a specimen from Cyprus and these two geographically and epidemiologically unlinked specimens, with their distinct clustering pattern, may represent a new subcluster of subtype A. In conclusion, these findings confirm the high HIV-1 genetic variability and further suggest the continuous appearance of new viral strains in this population.