HIV-1 gene subtypes in HIV positives and AIDS patients in Hainan province

Objective To monitor the epidemic situation of HIV strains in Hainan province by analyzing HIV-1 gene subtypes of HIV positives and AIDS patients.Methods PCR method was used to amplify env and pol genes of HIV-1 gene sequences after RNA reverse transcription extracted from 88 HIV-1 positive plasm a samples.The nucleotide sequence of amplification products was determined,and the genetic subtype was identified by comparative analysis.The max im umlike lihood(ML)phylogenetic tree was constructed for analysis of the spread cha in among HIV positives.Results Env and polgene fragments of HIV-1 were successfully am plified for 83 sample,and 6 kinds of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinant gene were found,inc luding 70 CRF01-AE subtype samples,8 B'subtype samples,2 C subtype samples,1 B subtype sample,1CRF08 -BC sample,and 1 recombinant subtype of CRF01-AE/B'samples.In the ML phylogenetic tree,83 samples were divided in to four dissem inative groups(66/83)and non-dissem inative groups(17/83),in which the dissem inative group 1(59/83)was the largest.Conclusion There are at least 6 kinds of HIV 21 gene subtypes in HIV/AIDS patients in Hainan province,and CRF01-AE subtype accounted for 84.33%(70/83)of all positives,mainly distributed among the intravenous drug users and their sexual partners in alarge disseminative group.Next is B'sub type(9.6%).Four other subtypes(6%) are observed only in individual case.The results suggest in travenous drug is the main route of infection(67.5%)in Hainan province.