SUBTYPING AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF HI V-1 ISOLATES FROM RUSSIA

HIV-1 genetic subtypes were analyzed by the heteroduplex mobility assa y (HMA) in 125 samples derived in 1995-1996 from residents of the Euro pean part of Russia. The results indicate the prevalence of six subtyp es (A, B, C, D, G, and H) in the Russian Federation, with four types ( A, B, C, and G) predominating (95%). The viruses belonging to subtypes A, B, and C spread via heterosexual contacts, subtype B mainly throug h homosexual intercourse. The majority of subtype G isolates are epide miologically linked with previously reported nosocomial infection of c hildren and their mothers with HIV-1 in Southern Russia. Nucleotide se quence analysis of emv encoded region confirmed the results of HMA.