Fast Dissemination of New HIV-1 CRF02/A1 Recombinants in Pakistan.
Abstract
A number of HIV-1 subtypes are identified in Pakistan by characterization of partial
viral gene sequences. Little is known whether new recombinants are generated and how
they disseminate since whole genome sequences for these viruses have not been characterized.
Near full-length genome (NFLG) sequences were obtained by amplifying two overlapping
half genomes or next generation sequencing from 34 HIV-1-infected individuals in Pakistan.
Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the newly characterized sequences were 16 subtype
As, one subtype C, and 17 A/G recombinants. Further analysis showed that all 16 subtype
A1 sequences (47%), together with the vast majority of sequences from Pakistan from
other studies, formed a tight subcluster (A1a) within the subtype A1 clade, suggesting
that they were derived from a single introduction. More in-depth analysis of 17 A/G
NFLG sequences showed that five shared similar recombination breakpoints as in CRF02
(15%) but were phylogenetically distinct from the prototype CRF02 by forming a tight
subcluster (CRF02a) while 12 (38%) were new recombinants between CRF02a and A1a or
a divergent A1b viruses. Unique recombination patterns among the majority of the newly
characterized recombinants indicated ongoing recombination. Interestingly, recombination
breakpoints in these CRF02/A1 recombinants were similar to those in prototype CRF02
viruses, indicating that recombination at these sites more likely generate variable
recombinant viruses. The dominance and fast dissemination of new CRF02a/A1 recombinants
over prototype CRF02 suggest that these recombinant have more adapted and may become
major epidemic strains in Pakistan.
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/13340Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1371/journal.pone.0167839Publication Info
Chen, Yue; Hora, Bhavna; DeMarco, Todd; Shah, Sharaf Ali; Ahmed, Manzoor; Sanchez,
Ana M; ... Gao, Feng (2016). Fast Dissemination of New HIV-1 CRF02/A1 Recombinants in Pakistan. PLoS One, 11(12). pp. e0167839. 10.1371/journal.pone.0167839. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/13340.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Thomas Norton Denny
Professor in Medicine
Thomas N. Denny, MSc, M.Phil, is the Chief Operating Officer of the Duke Human Vaccine
Institute (DHVI) and the Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology (CHAVI), and a Professor
of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He is
also an Affiliate Member of the Duke Global Health Institute. He has recently been
appointed to the Duke University Fuqua School of Business Health Sector Advisory Council.
Previously, he was an Associate Professor of Pathology, Laboratory M
Feng Gao
Professor Emeritus in Medicine
Dr. Feng Gao is Professor of Medicine at Duke University. The Gao laboratory has a
long-standing interest in elucidating the origins and evolution of human and simian
inmmunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV), and in studying HIV/SIV gene function and
pathogenic mechanisms from the evolutionary perspective. These studies have led to
new strategies to better understand HIV origins, biology, pathogenesis and drug resistance,
and to design new AIDS vaccines.
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