HIV type 1 subtypes circulating in eastern and northeastern regions of India

Genetic subtyping has been a powerful tool in tracking the global spread of HIV. To determine the HIV-1 subtypes circulating in eastern and northeastern regions of India blood samples were collected from female sex workers in Calcutta and intravenous drug users (IDUs) in Manipur. Fifty-four samples from Calcutta and 25 samples from Manipur were analyzed for HIV-1 subtyping by heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA). Twenty-six samples from these regions were sequenced. HMA and sequencing of the samples from these regions revealed subtype C as the major subtype, circulating within both eastern and northeastern regions. In Manipur, subtype ThaiB was also detected as the second major subtype. Some of the IDUs from Manipur were found to be dual infected with subtype C and ThaiB.