Aura Temereanca1,2, Cristiana Oprea3,4, Joel O Wertheim5, Irina Ianache4, Emanoil Ceausu3,4, Costin Cernescu2, Sanjay R Mehta5, Simona Ruta1,2. 1. Virology Chair, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. 2. Viral emerging diseases, Stefan S. Nicolau Virology Institute, Bucharest, Romania. 3. Infectious Diseases Chair, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. 4. Victor Babes Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania. 5. University of California, San Diego, USA.
Abstract
Injection drug use is increasingly an important route of HIV transmission in Romania (from 1.5% of the newly diagnosed cases prior to 2010 to 31% in 2013). In this study we investigated the viral characteristics and relationships in newly HIV infected persons who inject drugs in Bucharest, Romania. RESULTS: HIV-1 pol sequencing, followed by phylogenetic and clustering analysis was performed on blood from 37 injecting drug users (IDUs) newly diagnosed with HIV infection. While HIV subtype F1, the dominant strain in Romania since 1990, remains prevalent, new subtypes were found including G, B, B/G and B/F recombinants. Overall, 27 of the available sequences (72.9%) clustered with at least one other. Network and phylogenetic analysis revealed tight monophyletic clusters for both subtypes F and G, with short genetic distances between sequences, suggesting recent numerous acute to acute transmissions or single burst-type episodes. No transmitted drug-resistance mutations were identified. Greater immunosuppression was present in subjects forming the subtype G cluster, possibly indicating a faster rate of progression associated with this subtype. CONCLUSIONS: The recent increasing numbers of IDU related HIV transmissions in Bucharest, has resulted in closely-knit transmission networks that maychange the genetic profile of the local HIV epidemic.
Injection drug use is increasingly an important route of HIV transmission in Romania (from 1.5% of the newly diagnosed cases prior to 2010 to 31% in 2013). In this study we investigated the viral characteristics and relationships in newly HIV infected persons who inject drugs in Bucharest, Romania. RESULTS: HIV-1 pol sequencing, followed by phylogenetic and clustering analysis was performed on blood from 37 injecting drug users (IDUs) newly diagnosed with HIV infection. While HIV subtype F1, the dominant strain in Romania since 1990, remains prevalent, new subtypes were found including G, B, B/G and B/F recombinants. Overall, 27 of the available sequences (72.9%) clustered with at least one other. Network and phylogenetic analysis revealed tight monophyletic clusters for both subtypes F and G, with short genetic distances between sequences, suggesting recent numerous acute to acute transmissions or single burst-type episodes. No transmitted drug-resistance mutations were identified. Greater immunosuppression was present in subjects forming the subtype G cluster, possibly indicating a faster rate of progression associated with this subtype. CONCLUSIONS: The recent increasing numbers of IDU related HIV transmissions in Bucharest, has resulted in closely-knit transmission networks that maychange the genetic profile of the local HIV epidemic.
Entities:
Keywords:
HIV; drug use; subtype F; subtype G; transmission networks
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