Open AccessMolecular Diversity of HIV in Albania
Author(s) -
Massimo Ciccozzi,
Caterina Gori,
Stefano Boros,
Maria Josefina Ruiz Alvarez,
Arjan Harxhi,
Marjeta Dervishi,
Shpëtim Qyra,
Nicola Schinaia,
Roberta D’Arrigo,
Francesca CeccheriniSilberstein,
Silva Bino,
Carlo Federico Perno,
Giovanni Rezza
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the journal of infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.69
H-Index - 252
eISSN - 1537-6613
pISSN - 0022-1899
DOI - 10.1086/431599
Subject(s) - virology , reverse transcriptase , genotype , lentivirus , gene , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , biology , drug resistance , virus , protease , polymerase chain reaction , genetics , viral disease , enzyme , biochemistry
Little information is available on circulating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) subtypes and resistance to antiretroviral drugs in Albania. To fill this gap, we studied 72 plasma samples from HIV-infected individuals from throughout the country. Subtype classification and genotypic resistance analysis were performed on the HIV pol gene region. The analysis was successfully performed on 66 (91.6%) plasma samples and showed that 43 (65.2%) strains were non-B subtypes (mostly subtype A, as determined by analysis of pol gene sequences). No major mutations in the protease gene were found, whereas analysis of the reverse transcriptase gene revealed a few major mutations associated with resistance. In conclusion, non-B subtypes are predominant in Albania, and the prevalence of resistance to antiretroviral drugs is still low.
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