TITLE:
Molecular Diversity of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Metropolitan Cities in Central Africa: An Update of Data
AUTHORS:
Ben Ilunga Bulanda, Berry Ikolango Bongenya, Adawaye Chatte, Elvis Tshunza Kateba, Jean-Yves Debels Kabasele, Médard Okonda Omakoy, Divine Chuga, Christian Tshibumbu, Idriss Mwanaut, Erick Ntambwe Kamangu
KEYWORDS:
Molecular Diversity, HIV, Sub-Saharan Countries, Metropolitan Cities
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.10 No.2,
May
11,
2020
ABSTRACT: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has a diversity that is equal to
the complexity of its management. The group M (Major) is the dominant group in
Sub-Saharan Africa and its distribution is very heterogeneous; the diversity of
the virus is more heterogeneous in this region than elsewhere in the world
which follows a complex and specific algorithm because of geographical
positions and countries. This distribution is very dynamic, evolving and
unpredictable. This review aimed to expose the specifics of the HIV Type 1
epidemic in Central Africa, in terms of the different molecular variants of HIV
published for the region compared to the geographic location. Both Type 1 and
Type 2 of HIV are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa due to distinct geographical
contexts. HIV-2 is mainly documented in West and Central Africa, particularly
in Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Burkina-Faso
however HIV-1 infection is widely distributed across the continent. The HIV-1
epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa is dominated by the Group M. The different
subtypes respect a certain geographical distribution across the continent. West
Africa is dominated by subtype A, East and South Africa are dominated by
subtype C, while Central Africa is dominated by strains A, C, D, F, H, J,
CRF01-AE and CRF02-AG. This review is the first to present de molecular
diversity of HIV-1 in metropolitan cities in all central African countries. The
Circulating Recombinant Form (CRF02_AG) and subtypes A and G are present in all
Central African countries and are also the most commonly encountered; followed
by the subtypes D, F, G, C, B, J, K and several Circulating Recombinant Forms
that are not represented in all Central African countries.