Molecular Epidemiology of HIV-1 in Brazil: High Prevalence of HIV-1 Subtype B and Identification of an HIV-1 Subtype D Infection in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

ABSTRACTThe high incidence of AIDS cases and the dominance of HIV-1 subtype C infections are two features that distinguish the HIV-1 epidemic in the two southernmost Brazilian states (Rio Grande do Sul [RS] and Santa Catarina [SC]) from the epidemic in other parts of the country. Nevertheless, previous studies on HIV molecular epidemiology were conducted mainly in capital cities, and a more comprehensive understanding of factors driving this unique epidemic in Brazil is necessary. Blood samples were collected from individuals in 13 municipalities in the Brazilian southern region. HIV-1envandpolgenes were submitted to phylogenetic analyses for assignment of subtype, and viral population phylodynamics were reconstructed by applying Skygrid and logistic coalescent models in a Bayesian analysis. A high prevalence of subtype C was observed in all sampled locations; however, an increased frequency of recombinant strains was found in RS, with evidence for new circulating forms (CRFs). In the SC state, subtype B and C epidemics were associated with distinct exposure groups. Although logistic models estimated similar growth rates for HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) and HIV-1B, a Skygrid plot reveals that the former epidemic has been expanding for a longer time. Our results highlight a consistent expansion of HIV-1C in south Brazil, and we also discuss how heterosexual and men who have sex with men (MSM) transmission chains might have impacted the current prevalence of HIV-1 subtypes in this region.IMPORTANCEThe AIDS epidemic in south Brazil is expanding rapidly, but the circumstances driving this condition are not well known. A high prevalence of HIV-1 subtype C was reported in the capital cities of this region, in contrast to the subtype B dominance in the rest of the country. This study sought to comparatively investigate the HIV-1 subtype B and C epidemics by sampling individuals from several cities in the two states with the highest AIDS incidences in Brazil. Our analyses showed distinct epidemic growth curves for the two epidemics, and we also found evidence suggesting that separate transmission chains may be impacting the viral phylodynamics and the emergence of new recombinant forms.

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Molecular Epidemiology of HIV-1 in Venezuela: High Prevalence of HIV-1 Subtype B and Identification of a B/F Recombinant Infection

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes ◽

10.1097/00126334-200303010-00015 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 338-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Erika Castro ◽

Gloria Echeverría ◽

Leopoldo Deibis ◽

Beatríz González de Salmen ◽

Aline Dos Santos Moreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Subtype B ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Hiv 1

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022 A heterosexual outbreak in Doncaster involving subtype B of HIV-1: molecular epidemiology as a supplement to contact tracing

HIV Medicine ◽

10.1046/j.1468-1293.2000.00024-43.x ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 172-172

Author(s):

A Hayman ◽

T Moss ◽

C Arnold ◽

l Naylor-Adamson ◽

J Hawkswell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Subtype B ◽

Hiv 1

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High Prevalence and Onward Transmission of Non-Pandemic HIV-1 Subtype B Clades in Northern and Northeastern Brazilian Regions

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0162112 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. e0162112 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Flavia Divino ◽

Andre de Lima Guerra Corado ◽

Felipe Gomes Naveca ◽

Mariane M. A. Stefani ◽

Gonzalo Bello

Keyword(s):

Subtype B ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Hiv 1

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Molecular Epidemiology of HIV-1 Infected Migrants Followed Up in Portugal: Trends between 2001–2017

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12030268 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 268 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Victor Pimentel ◽

Marta Pingarilho ◽

Daniela Alves ◽

Isabel Diogo ◽

Sandra Fernandes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Reverse Transcriptase ◽

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor ◽

Country Of Origin ◽

Transcriptase Inhibitor ◽

Subtype B ◽

Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor ◽

Hiv 1 ◽

Over Time

Migration is associated with HIV-1 vulnerability. Objectives: To identify long-term trends in HIV-1 molecular epidemiology and antiretroviral drug resistance (ARV) among migrants followed up in Portugal Methods: 5177 patients were included between 2001 and 2017. Rega, Scuel, Comet, and jPHMM algorithms were used for subtyping. Transmitted drug resistance (TDR) and Acquired drug resistance (ADR) were defined as the presence of surveillance drug resistance mutations (SDRMs) and as mutations of the IAS-USA 2015 algorithm, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed. Results: HIV-1 subtypes infecting migrants were consistent with the ones prevailing in their countries of origin. Over time, overall TDR significantly increased and specifically for Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs) and Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTIs). TDR was higher in patients from Mozambique. Country of origin Mozambique and subtype B were independently associated with TDR. Overall, ADR significantly decreased over time and specifically for NRTIs and Protease Inhibitors (PIs). Age, subtype B, and viral load were independently associated with ADR. Conclusions: HIV-1 molecular epidemiology in migrants suggests high levels of connectivity with their country of origin. The increasing levels of TDR in migrants could indicate an increase also in their countries of origin, where more efficient surveillance should occur.

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Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 infection in immigrant population in northern Italy

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268819002012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 148 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Caterina Sagnelli ◽

Caterina Uberti-Foppa ◽

Sabrina Bagaglio ◽

Eleonora Cella ◽

Vittoria Scolamacchia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Tree ◽

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Subtype B ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Male Patients ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Cd4 Cell ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) is characterised by a vast genetic diversity classified into distinct phylogenetic strains and recombinant forms. We describe the HIV-1 molecular epidemiology and evolution of 129 consecutive HIV-1 positive migrants living in Milan (northern Italy). Polymerase gene sequences of 116 HIV-1 subtype-B positive patients were aligned with HIV-1 reference sequences (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) by using MAFFT alignment and edited by using Bioedit software. A maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree was performed by MEGA7 and was visualised by using FigTree v1.4.3. Of 129 migrants, 35 were born in Europe (28 in Eastern Europe), 70 in the Americas (67 in South America), 15 in Africa and nine in Asia; 76.4% were men who have sex with men (MSM). The serotype HIV-1-B prevailed (89.9%), followed by -C, -F1, -D and -A. Compared with 116 HIV-B patients, the 13 with HIV-non-B showed lower Nadir of CD4+ cell/mmc (P = 0.043), more frequently had sub Saharan origin (38.5 vs. 1.72%, P = 0.0001) and less frequently were MSM (40 vs. 74.5%, P = 0.02). The ML phylogenetic tree of the 116 HIV-1 subtype-B positive patients showed 13 statistically supported nodes (bootstrap > 70%). Most of the sequences included in these nodes have been isolated from male patients from the Americas and the most common risk factor was MSM. The low number of HIV-1 non-B subtype patients did not allow to perform this analysis. These results suggest a shift of HIV-1 prevention projects' focus and a continuous monitoring of HIV-1 molecular epidemiology among entry populations. Prevention efforts based on HIV molecular epidemiology may improve public health surveillance setting.

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