TY - JOUR
T1 - Distinct circulating recombinant HIV-1 strains among injecting drug users and sex workers in Afghanistan
AU - Sanders-Buell, Eric
AU - Bose, Meera
AU - Nasir, Abdul
AU - Todd, Catherine S.
AU - Stanekzai, M. Raza
AU - Tovanabutra, Sodsai
AU - Scott, Paul T.
AU - Strathdee, Steffanie A.
AU - Tjaden, Jeffrey
AU - Michael, Nelson L.
AU - McCutchan, Francine E.
PY - 2010/5/1
Y1 - 2010/5/1
N2 - Little information is available regarding a circulating HIV genotype among high-risk groups in Afghanistan; we describe HIV genotypes among injecting drug users (IDUs) and sex workers (SWs) in four Afghan cities. Participants completed behavioral questionnaires and HIV testing. Western blot-confirmed specimens had peripheral mononuclear blood cells isolated for genotyping. Analysis of recombinants was done by bootscanning and manual sequence alignment. The single SW sample harbored a CRF01-AE strain. Of 10 IDUs available for analysis, all were CRF35-AD and from Hirat. Analyzed subregions (gag p17 and env C1-C5) revealed close homology between the Hirat specimens. Three distinct subclusters comprising two or three strains were identified, whereas two other strains were generally equidistant from previously identified Kabul strains. Results suggest that the nascent HIV epidemic among IDUs in Hirat is largely, if not entirely, subtype CRF35-AD, and the close homology suggests recent infection; harm reduction should be supported to avert further transmission.
AB - Little information is available regarding a circulating HIV genotype among high-risk groups in Afghanistan; we describe HIV genotypes among injecting drug users (IDUs) and sex workers (SWs) in four Afghan cities. Participants completed behavioral questionnaires and HIV testing. Western blot-confirmed specimens had peripheral mononuclear blood cells isolated for genotyping. Analysis of recombinants was done by bootscanning and manual sequence alignment. The single SW sample harbored a CRF01-AE strain. Of 10 IDUs available for analysis, all were CRF35-AD and from Hirat. Analyzed subregions (gag p17 and env C1-C5) revealed close homology between the Hirat specimens. Three distinct subclusters comprising two or three strains were identified, whereas two other strains were generally equidistant from previously identified Kabul strains. Results suggest that the nascent HIV epidemic among IDUs in Hirat is largely, if not entirely, subtype CRF35-AD, and the close homology suggests recent infection; harm reduction should be supported to avert further transmission.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952563155&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/aid.2009.0226
DO - 10.1089/aid.2009.0226
M3 - Article
C2 - 20438383
AN - SCOPUS:77952563155
SN - 0889-2229
VL - 26
SP - 605
EP - 608
JO - AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
JF - AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
IS - 5
ER -