Abstract:
Two HIV-1 strains circulated separately in distinct high-risk populations, HIV-1
subtype B among IDU and CRF01_AE among heterosexual transmitted in early HIV-
1 epidemic in Thailand. Subsequent studies revealed that CRF01_AE spreaded faster
and predominated in the entire HIV-1 population. Recently, intersubtype
recombination of HIV-1 strain was found in Thailand.
Eight-hundred and twenty eight samples were collected from 1995 to 2004 from
high-risk groups in Bangkok, northern, northeastern, and southern regions of Thailand.
HIV-1 env nucleotide sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis of the circulating
HIV 1 strain.
By single HIV-1 region (env) genotyping, 97.3% of CRF01_AE and 2.7% of
HIV-1 subtype B were found. The predominate of CRF01_AE was found in all
geographic regions. Parallel analysis of HIV-1 gag and env gene demonstrated that
2.1% and 4.0% of recombinant HIV-1 strains were found using p17 and p24 region
sequences, respectively. Recombinant gag gene was also found in the southern
isolate.
Phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 isolated from IDU and heterosexual groups
demonstrated a distinct cluster between these two groups. Genetic diversity and
signature sequence patterns were also different with higher genetic diversity in IDU
group (0.17). GPGQ V3 loop tip was found in both groups.
Phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 isolated from 20 provinces year 2002 suggested
that there was no geographic distinction among HIV-1 CRF01_AE circulated in
Thailand. Northern and northeastern isolates were more related than southern isolates
which had the lowest genetic diversity of 0.13. GPGQ V3 loop tip was also found in
isolates from all regions.
Thai HIV-1 isolates from border areas in the north, the northeast, and coastal
areas in the south, clustered with Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodian isolates,
respectively. Transborder transmission of Thai isolates to neighboring countries was
confirmed by the higer in genetic diversity of the Thai isolates.
Two distinct clusters of HIV-1 subtype B and US B were found. The most
recent common ancestor of subtype B MN strain in 2002-2004 isolates was assumed
to be derived from USA in 1984 and circulated among men who had sex with men.
Molecular epidemiological data of HIV-1 circulated in Thailand from this study
will provide information useful for future vaccine design and surveillance program
planning.