Genetic characterization of HIV before widespread testing of HIV vaccine candidates at a clinical trial site in Pretoria, South Africa

Andrew Munyalo Musyoki, Khutso Mothapo, Jonny Nare Rakgole, Azwidowi Lukhwareni, Pascal Bessong, Selokela Gloria Selabe, Helba Bredell, Carolyn Williamson, M. Jeffrey Mphahlele*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We studied 123 samples from adult chronic HIV patients initiating HAART from various centers around a newly established clinical trial site in Pretoria. Each sample was sequenced in at least one structural gene (pol, gag, and env) or functional gene (vif, vpr, and vpu). A subset of 25 samples was subjected to near full-genome analysis. All samples were HIV-1 subtype C. Highly conserved regions within the gene sequences were observed. Overall, the gag and vif sequences showed closer similarity followed by the env, vpr, pol, and vpu. The env gene was the most difficult to sequence, resulting in only 31 sequences from 40 samples; of these, 25 were predicted to be R5 coreceptor tropic, while 6 were X4 tropic. The study asserted the predominance of HIV-1 subtype C within the catchment population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)931-938
Number of pages8
JournalAIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
Volume28
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2012
Externally publishedYes

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