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The evolution of HIV‐1 group M genetic variability in Southern Cameroon is characterized by several emerging recombinant forms of CRF02_AG and viruses with drug resistance mutations
Author(s) -
Agyingi Lucy,
Mayr Luzia M.,
Kinge Thompson,
Orock George Enow,
Ngai Johnson,
Asaah Bladine,
Mpoame Mbida,
Hewlett Indira,
Nyambi Phillipe
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.23846
Subject(s) - drug resistance , virology , reverse transcriptase , recombinant dna , genetic diversity , biology , protease , drug , lentivirus , mutation , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , resistance mutation , virus , genetics , polymerase chain reaction , viral disease , gene , medicine , population , pharmacology , enzyme , biochemistry , environmental health
The HIV epidemic in Cameroon is marked by a broad genetic diversity dominated by circulating recombinant forms (CRFs). Studies performed more than a decade ago in urban settings of Southern Cameroon revealed a dominance of the CRF02_AG and clade A variants in >90% of the infected subjects; however, little is known about the evolving viral variants circulating in this region. To document circulating HIV viral diversity, four regions of the viral genome ( gag , PR, reverse transcriptase, env ) in 116 HIV‐1 positive individuals in Limbe, Southern Cameroon, were PCR‐amplified. Sequences obtained at the RT and protease regions were analyzed for mutations that conferred drug resistance using the Stanford Drug Resistance Database. The present study reveals a broad genetic diversity characterized by several unique recombinant forms (URF) accounting for 36% of infections, 48.6% of patients infected with CRF02_AG, and the emergence of CRF22_01A1 in 7.2% of patients. Three out of 15 (20%) treated patients and 13 out of 93 (13.9%) drug naïve patients harbor drug resistance mutations to RT inhibitors, while 3.2% of drug naïve patients harbor drug resistance mutations associated with protease inhibitors. The high proportion (13.9%) of drug resistance mutations among the drug naïve patients reveals the ongoing transmission of these viruses in this region of Cameroon and highlights the need for drug resistance testing before starting treatment for patients infected with HIV‐1. J. Med. Virol. 86:385–393, 2014 . © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Medical Virology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.