Identification of a novel circulating recombinant form (CRF3301B) disseminating widely among various risk populations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2006
Abstract
A molecular epidemiological investigation was conducted among various risk populations (n = 184) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2003 to 2005, on the basis of nucleotide sequences of protease and reverse transcriptase regions. In addition to circulating HIV-1 strains, including CRF01AE (57.1), subtype B (20.1), and subtype C (0.5), we detected a candidate with a new circulating recombinant form (CRF). We determined four near-full-length nucleotide sequences with identical subtype structure from epidemiologically unlinked individuals of different risk and ethnic groups. In this chimera, two short subtype B segments were inserted into the gag-RT region in a backbone of CRF01AE. The recombinant structure was distinct from previously identified CRF1501B in Thailand. In agreement with the current HIV nomenclature system, this constitutes a novel CRF (CRF3301B). The overall prevalence of CRF3301B is 19.0 (35/184). Although the prevalence of CRF3301B is particularly high among injecting drug users (42.0, 21/50), it is also detected in a substantial proportion of homo-/bisexual males (18.8, 3/16) and heterosexuals (9.8, 9/92). Moreover, unique recombinant forms composed of CRF01AE and subtype B that have a significant structural relationship with CRF3301B were detected in 1.6 (3/184) of study subjects, suggesting an ongoing recombination process in Malaysia. This new CRF seems to be bridging viral transmission between different risk populations in this country.
Keywords
Molecular Epidemiological Investigation
Divisions
fac_med
Publication Title
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Volume
43
Issue
5
Publisher
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Additional Information
Tee, Kok Keng Li, Xiao-Jie Nohtomi, Kyoko Ng, Kee Peng Kamarulzaman, Adeeba Takebe, Yutaka