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A Restriction Enzyme Based Cloning Method to Assess the In vitro Replication Capacity of HIV-1 Subtype C Gag-MJ4 Chimeric Viruses
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Differences in HIV type 1 RNA plasma load profile of closely related cocirculating Ethiopian subtype C strains: C and

Workenesh Ayele1, Yared Mekonnen, Tsehaynesh Messele

  • 1Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
|July 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

HIV-1 subtype C

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Two distinct subclusters of HIV-1 subtype C, designated C and C', circulate in Ethiopia.
  • Limited understanding exists regarding the biological and clinical distinctions between these two subclusters.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To longitudinally compare the clinical and virological differences between HIV-1 subtype C and C' infections in Ethiopian individuals.
  • To investigate the factors contributing to the differential prevalence of these subclusters.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal monitoring of viral loads and CD4(+) T cell counts in 130 treatment-naive Ethiopian individuals over five years.
  • Genetic subtyping to differentiate between HIV-1 subclusters C and C'.

Main Results:

  • Subcluster C' was the predominant genotype (72.3%).
  • Subcluster C' showed higher viral loads at high CD4(+) T cell counts (500-900 cells/mm(3)), while subcluster C had higher viral loads at low CD4(+) T cell counts (0-150 cells/mm(3)).
  • Individuals infected with subcluster C experienced a higher mortality rate.

Conclusions:

  • HIV-1 subcluster C infection is associated with a more rapid disease progression, despite initially lower viral loads.
  • The distinct viral load dynamics observed in subcluster C' infections may explain its higher prevalence in Ethiopia.

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