Bioinformatic approach for tracking HIV-1 evolution in Vietnam and neighboring southeast Asian countries

Abstract

There is high prevalence of a methionine substitution at the tip of the V3 loop (MGPGQ) among HIV CRF_AE strains from Vietnam. The aim of this study was to identify other molecular markers or ""signature sequences"" for mapping the spread of HIV in Vietnam and in neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Analysis of the sequence diversity and grouping by molecular markers suggested that ET strain initially gained entry in CSW in southern Vietnam. Unique substitutions among ECM and EC- strains in southern Vietnam IDU and CSW suggested independent introduction and spread of HIV among these high-risk groups. Unique and identical amino acid substitutions found in ECV strains from IDU in northern Vietnam and southern China suggested cross-border travel of virus-infected IDU.