Related Experiment Videos
HIV-1 subtype diversity in Minnesota
Tracy L Sides1, Omobosola Akinsete, Keith Henry
1Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414-9441, USA. t_sides@yahoo.com
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|June 9, 2005
Summary
Genetic variation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) poses challenges. Minnesota
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Genetic diversity in HIV-1 presents significant public health and clinical challenges.
- Subtype B is the most common HIV-1 strain in North America.
- Routine HIV surveillance in the U.S. does not typically include subtyping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot HIV-1 subtyping within routine surveillance in Minnesota.
- To identify the existence and diversity of non-subtype B HIV-1 strains.
Main Methods:
- Targeted surveillance of 98 African-born HIV-infected patients.
- Sentinel surveillance of 28 newly diagnosed non-African HIV-positive patients in Minneapolis.
- HIV-1 subtype determination using partial gp41 env gene sequencing.
Main Results:
- 95% of HIV-1 samples from African-born patients were non-B subtypes (7 subtypes identified).
- Observed subtypes in African-born patients correlated with their regions of origin.
- All HIV-1 samples from non-African-born patients were subtype B.
Conclusions:
- Multiple HIV-1 subtypes are circulating in Minnesota.
- Non-B subtypes are prevalent among HIV-infected African-born individuals in Minnesota.
- Population-based surveillance, including high-risk groups, is crucial for monitoring HIV-1 subtype diversity.