High HIV-1 genetic diversity in Cuba

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• HIV-1 subtype B is the dominant strain in the Caribbean.
• Recent identification of other subtypes in Cuba suggests increasing viral diversity.
• Understanding HIV-1 genetic landscape is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic diversity of HIV-1 strains circulating in Cuba.
• To identify the subtypes and recombinant forms of HIV-1 present in the Cuban population.
• To analyze the distribution of HIV-1 genetic forms among different risk groups.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic analysis of pol and env gene segments from 105 HIV-1 infected individuals.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of viral DNA.
• Bootscanning analysis to detect intersubtype recombination.

Main Results:

• 52% of HIV-1 strains were non-B subtypes or recombinant forms, indicating high diversity.
• Subtypes C, D, F1, G, H, and J were identified, with subtype G being most frequent among non-B non-recombinants.
• 43 recombinant forms were detected, with Dpol/Aenv and Upol/Henv being the most common.
• All known HIV-1 group M subtypes were present in Cuba, either as complete subtypes or mosaic segments.
• Non-B subtypes were predominant in heterosexuals (72%), while subtype B was more common in homosexuals/bisexuals (63%).

Conclusions:

• Cuba harbors an exceptionally high diversity of HIV-1 genetic forms.
• This genetic diversity is unparalleled in the Americas and comparable to Central Africa.
• The findings underscore the need for tailored public health interventions considering the complex HIV-1 epidemiology in Cuba.