Variability in HIV-1 partial genomic sequences in Costa Rican patients: analysis with different bioinformatics tools Variabilidad de secuencias genómicas parciales del VIH-1 en pacientes costarricenses: análisis con diferentes herramientas bioinformáticas

• Main Authors: Lizeth Taylor-Castillo, María Paz León-Bratti, Antonio Solano-Chinchilla, Gisela Herrera-Martínez, Ricardo Boza-Cordero, Bernal León, Ronald B. Luftig, Kirsten Visoná
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish; Portuguese
• Published: Pan American Health Organization 2010
• Subjects: VIH-1; análisis de secuencia; recombinación genética; variación genética; programas informáticos; Costa Rica; HIV-1; sequence analysis; recombination; genetic; genetic variation; software; Medicine; R; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/8214fada4b3442bfb6df7624086492d5

OBJECTIVE: To estimate subtype and genomic variability in the HIV pol gene of Costa Rican patients by using different bioinformatics tools and to use this information to establish new policies to better manage these patients. METHODS: A total of 113 pol sequences available from Costa Rican patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy were analyzed by using the Genotyping, REGA, Stanford, and MEGA programs. The pol sequences came from 77 virologic failures (VF) and 36 basal samples (BS). Of the 77 VF, 22 also were sequenced in the env region. RESULTS: No major differences were found among the variables studied. However, there was a tendency for more variability in VF patients with a high baseline viral load. In the pol gene, 75%-83% of BS and 66%-75% of VF samples were pure B subtype by Genotyping and REGA, respectively. The other samples presented variations related mainly to circulating recombinant form CRF12 by genotyping or to CRF17 or -29 by phylogenetic analysis or a new possible BD recombinant with all programs. In the Stanford program, all variable samples showed a subtype B with high polymorphism. The variability in the env sequences was lower than that in the pol region. CONCLUSION: The B subtype is predominant in Costa Rican HIV-positive patients. There is high variability within sequences with potential recombination between B and F or D subtypes. The BD recombinant has not been previously reported. This high variability is likely the result of possible recombinant events, nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy, sexual intercourse without protection, and many sexual partners. Similar studies should be done in other countries in the Region, in particular in those places with extensive immigration, in order to decrease the possibility of virus variability as well as the cost of antiretroviral therapy. OBJETIVOS: Determinar el subtipo y la variabilidad genómica del gen pol del VIH de pacientes costarricenses mediante diferentes herramientas bioinformáticas y el uso de esta información para ...