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.

Genetic subtypes of HIV type 1 in Republic of Congo.

To assess the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Republic of Congo (Congo), we investigated 29 HIV-1s obtained from 82 Congolese AIDS and ARC patients in 1996 and 1997. Part of the env region including the V3 loop was phylogenetically analyzed. The genotypes observed were varied: of 29 specimens, 12 (41 %) were subtype A, 1 (3%) was subtype D, 6 (21%) were subtype G, 6 (21%) were subtype H, 2 (7%) were subtype J, and 2 (7%) could not be classified as any known subtypes (U, unclassified).

Natural infection of chimpanzees with new lentiviruses related to HIV-1/SIVcpz.

To determine newly identified lentiviruses, termed simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)cpz97CG4 and SIVcpz97CG6, from two wild-captured juvenile brother chimpanzees in the Republic of Congo, subgenomic pol (integrase, 288 bp), 5'tat/rev-env Cl (including vpu, 354 bp) and env (C2-C4, 544 bp) gene fragments were amplified and sequenced. The analysis revealed significantly discordant phylogenetic positions of SIVcpz97CG in each genomic region. In the trees derived from partial env sequences (V3), both SIVcpz strains clustered in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype A.