Molecular and biological diversity of HIV-1 in Brazil.

ABSTRACT

To determine the genomic polymorphism and biological properties present in HIV-1 Brazilian isolates, we analyzed five viral isolates obtained from patients residing in Rio de Janeiro (P1 and P5), São Paulo (P3) and Bahia (P2 and P4) states. For each viral isolate in vitro characteristics such as replication rate, syncytium-inducing capacity and cell death were observed in lymphoblastoid (H9, CEM and peripheral blood mononuclear cells) as well as monocytoid (U937) cells. In addition, the evaluation of the restriction fragment length polymorphism of these isolates was also performed using a panel of endonucleases such as Hind III, Bgl II, Sac I, Pst I, Kpn I and Eco RI. One of the isolates (P1), showed the highest phenotypic and genotypic divergence, when compared to others. The results found suggest a HIV heterogeneity in Brazil similar to that already described in other regions of the world.

ABSTRACT

PIP AIDS is a very serious public health problem in Brazil, with 19,361 cases officially reported as of August 1991. Since the discovery of HIV as the causative agent of AIDS, several isolates have been obtained and found to be different with respect to their cell infectivity, replication rate, neutralization pattern, and enzyme restriction characteristics. Polymorphic restriction maps have been observed among isolates recovered from the same region or from the same individuals. The authors analyzed five viral isolates obtained from patients living in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Bahia states in their effort to determine the genomic polymorphism and biological properties present in HIV-1 Brazilian isolates. For each isolate, in vitro characteristics such as replication rate, syncytium-inducing capacity, and cell death were observed in lymphoblastoid and monocytoid cells. The evaluation of the restriction fragment length polymorphism of the isolates was also performed using a panel of endonucleases. An isolate from Rio de Janeiro demonstrated the comparatively highest phenotypic and genotypic divergence. These results suggest the existence of an HIV heterogeneity in Brazil similar to that already described in other regions of the world.