This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by McCormack, G. P.
Right arrow Articles by Clewley, J. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by McCormack, G. P.
Right arrow Articles by Clewley, J. P.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Virology, December 2002, p. 12890-12899, Vol. 76, No. 24
0022-538X/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.76.24.12890-12899.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Early Evolution of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype C Epidemic in Rural Malawi

Grace P. McCormack,1* Judith R. Glynn,2 Amelia C. Crampin,2,3 Felix Sibande,3 Dominic Mulawa,3 Lyn Bliss,2 Philip Broadbent,2 Katia Abarca,4 Jorg M. Pönnighaus,3 Paul E. M. Fine,2 and Jonathan P. Clewley1*

Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Virus Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory,1 Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom,2 Karonga Prevention Study, Chilumba, Malawi,3 Departamento de Pediatra, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile4

Received 20 June 2002/ Accepted 12 September 2002

We have tracked the early years of the evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic in a rural district of central east Africa from the first documented introductions of subtypes A, D, and C to the present predominance of subtype C. The earliest subtype C sequences ever reported are described. Blood samples were collected on filter papers from 1981 to 1984 and from 1987 to 1989 from more than 44,000 individuals living in two areas of Karonga District, Malawi. These samples included HIV-1-positive samples from 200 people. In 1982 to 1984, HIV-1 subtypes A, C, and D were all present, though in small numbers. By 1987 to 1989, 152 (90%) of a total of 168 sequences were subtype C and AC, AD, and DC recombinants had emerged. Four of the subtype C sequences from 1983 to 1984 were closely related and were found at the base of a large cluster of low diversity that by the late 1980s accounted for 40% of C sequences. The other two early C sequences fell into a separate and more diverse cluster. Three other clusters containing sequences from the late 1980s were identified. Each cluster contained at least one sample from a person who had recently arrived in the district. From 18 HIV-1-positive spouse pairs, 12 very closely related pairs of sequences were identified. We conclude that there were multiple introductions of HIV-1 with limited spread, followed by explosive growth of a subtype C cluster, probably arising from a single introduction in or before 1983.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address for Grace P. McCormack: Biology Department, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. Phone: 353 17083855. Fax: 353 17083845. E-mail: grace.p.mccormack{at}may.ie. Mailing address for Jonathan P. Clewley: Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Virus Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Ave., London NW9 5HT, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 20 8200 4400. Fax: 44 20 8200 1569. E-mail: jclewley{at}phls.org.uk.

Journal of Virology, December 2002, p. 12890-12899, Vol. 76, No. 24
0022-538X/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.76.24.12890-12899.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Gisselquist, D, Potterat, J J, St Lawrence, J S, Hogan, M, Arora, N K, Correa, M, Dinsmore, W W, Mehta, G, Millogo, J, Muth, S Q, Okinyi, M, Ounga, T (2009). How to contain generalized HIV epidemics? A plea for better evidence to displace speculation. Int J STD AIDS 20: 443-446 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Gisselquist, D (2008). Denialism undermines AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. Int J STD AIDS 19: 649-655 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Rousseau, C. M., Learn, G. H., Bhattacharya, T., Nickle, D. C., Heckerman, D., Chetty, S., Brander, C., Goulder, P. J. R., Walker, B. D., Kiepiela, P., Korber, B. T., Mullins, J. I. (2007). Extensive Intrasubtype Recombination in South African Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype C Infections. J. Virol. 81: 4492-4500 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Travers, S. A. A., Clewley, J. P., Glynn, J. R., Fine, P. E. M., Crampin, A. C., Sibande, F., Mulawa, D., McInerney, J. O., McCormack, G. P. (2004). Timing and Reconstruction of the Most Recent Common Ancestor of the Subtype C Clade of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1. J. Virol. 78: 10501-10506 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»