Subtyping Cuban HIV-1 Strains by envHMA

摘要

Heteroduplex Mobility Assay (HMA) is a simple method for subtyping HIV-1 strains. Twenty-nine HIV-1 positive samples from Havana were analyzed by envHMA, using nested PCR with primers ED 5/12 and ES 7/8 (or ED 31/33, ES 8/ED 31, whenever necessary). Twenty samples amplified with ES 7/8 and 16 of them showed a definite subtype. Almost all the remaining samples were genotyped by ED 31/33 or ES 8/ ED 31. Subtypes A, B, C, E and G were detected, as well as a number of strains without a definite subtype. The results could be due to the huge HIV-1 env variability, the age of the Cuban epidemic, its origin and social and behavioral factors in the populations studied. The technique allowed to subtype more than half of the samples studied and the detection of subtype E that has not been reported in Cuba by HMA.