Study of HIV-1 subtypes in serodiscordant couples attending an integrated counselling and testing centre in Mumbai using heteroduplex mobility analysis and DNA sequencing

Indian J Med Microbiol. 2010 Oct-Dec;28(4):290-4. doi: 10.4103/0255-0857.71807.

Abstract

Aims: To determine the prevalent subtypes of HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples.

Setting: Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC), Department of Microbiology.

Study design: Prospective pilot study.

Participants: Thirty HIV-1 serodiscordant couples.

Inclusion criteria: a) Documentation of HIV-1 infection in one partner and seronegative status in the other, current history of continued unprotected sexual activity within the partnership, demonstration that they have been in a partnership for at least 1 year and are not currently on highly active antiretroviral therapy HAART; b) willingness of both partners to provide written informed consent including consent to continued couple counselling for 3 months.

Materials and methods: HIV-1 subtyping was carried out by heteroduplex mobility analysis (HMA) by amplifying env region; and DNA sequencing by amplifying gag region.

Results: HIV-1 env gene was amplified successfully in 10/30 samples; gag gene, in 25/30 samples; and both env and gag gene were amplified successfully in 5/30 samples. HIV-1 subtype C was detected from 21 samples; subtype B, from 7; and subtype A, from 2. Sample from 1 positive partner was detected as subtype C by env HMA and subtype B by gag sequencing.

Conclusion: HIV-1 subtype C was found to be the predominant subtype of HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples attending our ICTC, followed by HIV-1 subtype B and HIV-1 subtype A, respectively. DNA sequencing was found to be the most reliable method for determining the subtypes of HIV-1.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Serodiagnosis
  • Counseling
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated
  • Family Characteristics*
  • Female
  • Genes, env
  • Genes, gag
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV Seronegativity*
  • HIV-1 / classification*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • Heteroduplex Analysis / methods*
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
  • Prevalence
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral