Genetic subtyping of human immunodeficiency virus-1 in Guangdong province

  Objective   To reveal the distribution of subtypes of HIV-1 in Guangdong Province.

  Methods   The env gene of HIV was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction(nPCR)in 11 HIV-1 infected individuals from 1998 to Feb 2002.The PCR products were cloned to T-vector and were sequenced automatically.

  Results   Among eleven HIV positive blood samples, 6 were subtype B, including 3 blood donors, 1 sex workers and 2 IDUs.Five cases were subtype E, including 3 sex workers, 1 blood donors and 1 IDUs.The genetic distance of subtype B and E was(7.6±1.9)% and(6.6±3.8)%, respectively.The 6 subtype B strains were closed to the type B in Thailand or China.

  Conclusion   There were at least subtype B and E of HIV-1 strains in Guangdong Province and they were from different sources.