AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, October 4, 2004
Staff Medical Writers

"The molecular diversity and demographic characteristics among 976 anti-HIV-1-positive heterosexuals attending 15 sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics participating in an unlinked anonymous HIV prevalence serosurvey in England and Wales during 1997-2000 were investigated.

"Subtypes were assigned by heteroduplex mobility assay or sequencing of the p17/p24 region of gag and the V3/V4 region of env and by sequencing of the protease gene," scientists in England report.

"Overall," wrote I.D. Tatt and coworkers, "there was no significant change in the subtype distribution, with subtype C accounting for the majority (32%) of subtyped infections. Subtypes B (29%), A (12%), circulating recombinant forms (CRFs, 9%), unique recombinant forms (URFs, 8%), and subtypes D-H (8%) were also detected.

"Thirty-nine percent of infections in men were with subtype B, whereas subtype C was most common (38%) in women. Logistic regression analyses showed the relative risk (RR) of infection with a non-B subtype, compared with subtype B, to be greater in African-born individuals (RR=28.9, P<0.01), among newly diagnosed infections (RR=3.4, P<0.01), and in women (RR=2.4, P<0.01)," the authors said.

"These findings indicate a high level of genetic diversity among HIV-infected heterosexual STI clinic attendees in England and Wales. Recently," Tatt continued, "subtype C has become most prevalent, particularly in younger age groups, suggesting recent acquisition of this viral strain."

Researchers concluded, "The high proportion of non-B, CRF, and URF infections among UK-born individuals is consistent with mixing between migrants and UK-born individuals in England and Wales. As migration patterns change, continued monitoring of HIV genetic diversity will aid understanding of transmission patterns."

Tatt and colleagues published their study in Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (Surveillance of HIV-1 subtypes among heterosexuals in England and Wales, 1997-2000. JAIDS, 2004;36(5):1092-1099).

For additional information, contact J.V. Parry, Cent. Publ Hlth Laboratory, Sexually Transmitted & Blood Borne Virus Laboratory, Hlth Protect Agcy, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, England.

The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621 USA.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of HIV/AIDS, Genomics & Genetics, Epidemiology, and Viral Transmission.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Tatt ID, Barlow KL, Clewley JP, et al., "Surveillance of HIV-1 Subtypes Among Heterosexuals in England and Wales, 1997–2000", J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2004 Aug 15;36(5):1092-1099.

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