HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants in the Republic of Congo.

To document the actual genetic diversity of HIV-1 strains in the Republic of Congo, 114 HIV-1 positives persons were sampled in 2003 and 2004 after their informed consent. They were attending the teaching hospital, the reference health center in Makelekele, Brazzaville and the regional hospital centers in Pointe-Noire, Gamboma and Ouesso. A total of 104 samples were genetically characterized by direct sequencing of the p24 gag region and 80 were also subtyped in the V3-V5 env region.

A novel simian immunodeficiency virus from black mangabey (Lophocebus aterrimus) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In order to understand primate lentivirus evolution, characterization of additional simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strains is essential. Here, an SIV from a black mangabey (Lophocebus aterrimus) originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo was analysed phylogenetically. The monkey had cross-reactive antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2.

Genetic diversity of HIV type 1 in Likasi, southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

To investigate the prevalence of subtypes A and C, and the existence of recombinants of both subtypes in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), blood samples were collected from 27 HIV-infected individuals in Likasi, located in an area bordering close to Zambia, and analyzed phylogenetically. Out of the 24 strains with a positive PCR profile for pol-IN and env-C2V3, 15 (62.5%) had a discordant subtype or CRF designation: one subtype A/G (pol/env), four A/U (unclassified), three G/A, one G/CRF01, three H/A, one J/C, one CRF02 (G)/A, and one U/A.

Genetic subtypes of HIV type 1 based on the vpu/env sequences in the Republic of Congo.

To investigate the HIV-1 subtypes prevalent in the Republic of Congo, we isolated 28 HIV-1 strains from Congolese AIDS patients in 1996 and 1997, and analyzed them phylogenetically. Phylogenetic analysis based on part of the 5' tat-env (vpu) and env sequences revealed that only 13 (46.4%) of the 28 isolates belonged to the same subtype in the vpu tree as in the env tree; the remaining 15 (53.