Clinical, epidemiological and molecular features of the HIV-1 subtype C and recombinant forms that are circulating in the city of São Paulo

Abstract

The city of São Paulo has the highest AIDS case rate, with nearly 60% in Brazil. Despite, several involving, molecular epidemiology, lack of data regarding a large cohort study has not been published from this city. This study aimed to describe the HIV-1 subtypes, recombinant forms and drug resistance mutations, according to subtype, with emphasis on subtype C and BC recombinants in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. RNA was extracted from the plasma samples of 302 HIV-1 seropositive subjects, of which 211 were drug-naive and 82 were exposed to ART. HIV-1 partial pol region sequences were used in phylogenetic analyses for subtyping and identification of drug resistance mutations. The envelope gene of subtype C and ac samples was also sequenced. From partial pol gene analyses, 239 samples (79,1%) were assigned as subtype a, 23 (7,6%) were F1, 16 (5,3%) were subtype C and 24 (8%) were mosaics (3 CRF28/CRF29-like). The subtype C and BC recombinants were mainly identified in drug-narve patients (72,7%)and the heterosexual risk exposure category (86,3%), where’s for subtype a, these values were 69,9% and 57,3%, respectively (p=0.97 and p=0.015, respectively). An increasing trend of subtype C and BC recombinants was observed (p<0.01). The HIV-1 subtype C and CRFs seem to have emerged over the last few years in the city of São Paulo, principally among the Heterosexual population. These findings may have an impact measures and vaccine development in Brazil. (AU)