[Molecular epidemiology of HIV-infection in drug addicts of Southern Ural].

The analysis of HIV-1 variants circulating among drug addicts in 16 settlements of the Sverdlov, Chelyabinsk and Orenburg regions (72, 90 and 42 patients respectively) was carried out. As shown by the serological analysis, the spread of HIV-1 variant IDU-A among the drug addicts in this area continued in this area and could be detected in 99.5% of the samples (203 out of 204 samples).

[Possible mechanisms of the reciprocal influence of infections caused by HIV and hepatitis C virus].

Literature data on the pathogenesis of mixed infection caused by human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), type I, and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as on possible mechanisms of the reciprocal influence of these viruses necessary to understand their co-existence, are reviewed. The extrahepatic replication of HCV, its role in the infectious process and its possible contribution to the course of mono- and co-infection are considered in detail. Much attention is paid to the specific features of immune response in HIV-HCV infection and the immunomediated mechanisms of the reciprocal influence of the viruses.

[The structure of the secondary diseases in HIV-infected patients in Russia].

In 95 patients with HIV infection (76 males and 19 females), observed in 1993-1997, the structure of secondary diseases was studied. During this period 58 patients (61.1%) died.

[Recombinant human immunodeficiency viruses].

Three types of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus have been found to circulate in Russia. The first type of the virus belongs to genotype gagAenvB, the second type belongs to genotype gagDenvG and the third type, to genotype gagAenvE. The virus of genotype gagAenvB circUlates in the population of drug addicts simultaneously with its "parent" viruses of genotypes gagAenvA and gagBenvB.

[HIV-1 subtypes in Russia in 1987-1988].

The subtyping of 350 isolates of HIV-1, isolated on the territories of 38 subjects of the Russian Federation, was carried out. The analysis was made by the method of the comparative heteroduplex mobility assay, as well as by the determination of the sequence of genes env [correction of ens] (gp 120) and gag (p17-p24). The study revealed that more than 50% of all cases of HIV-1 infection were caused by closely related variants of subtype A virus.