HIV-1 recombination, reverse transcriptase (RT) low fidelity and high replication rate are the drivers of variability and evolution on the global scale. Only few of these HIV-1 chimeric forms have been characterized in Europe, despite 20% of infections are due to unique or circulating recombinant forms worldwide. An outbreak of BC recombinants has been recently described in a southern region of Italy, Apulia, in men having sex with men (MSM) seeking sexual partners on-line. We analyzed the full length genome of HIV-1 BC recombinants harbored by three recently infected subjects, two MSM and a heterosexual woman, with no evidence of epidemiological link. The recombination analysis showed a unique recombination pattern of a subtype C genome with 3 subtype B fragments corresponding to HXB2 positions: [1-463] in the 5'LTR , [2804-3037] in RT and [8662-9548] corresponding to the C-terminal segment of gp41, nef and most of 3'LTR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the South American origin of the C subtype parental strain. A research conducted in an Italian nationwide database provided six additional similar sequences from other Italian regions with identical recombination pattern in pol gene; a further BLAST search retrieved one full length genome isolated in France with the same mosaic pattern, except an additional B subtype short fragment in the integrase region. These recombinant isolates, designated CRF60_BC, led to the identification of the first Italian circulating recombinant form, which gave rise to an epidemic burst mainly involving MSM.
Identification of a new HIV-1 BC circulating recombinant form (CRF60_BC) in Italian young men having sex with men / F.R. Simonetti, A. Lai, L. Monno, F. Binda, G. Brindicci, G. Punzi, G. Bozzi, M. Violin, M. Galli, M. Zazzi, G. Angarano, C. Balotta. - In: INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION. - ISSN 1567-1348. - 23(2014 Apr), pp. 176-181.
Titolo: | Identification of a new HIV-1 BC circulating recombinant form (CRF60_BC) in Italian young men having sex with men |
Autori: | SIMONETTI, FRANCESCO ROBERTO (Primo) LAI, ALESSIA (Secondo) BALOTTA, CLAUDIA (Ultimo) |
Parole Chiave: | CRF6O_BC; Italian young MSM; Recombination analysis |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore MED/17 - Malattie Infettive Settore MED/42 - Igiene Generale e Applicata Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica |
Data di pubblicazione: | apr-2014 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2014.02.007 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |
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