GENETIC, ANTIGENIC AND SEROLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 FROM INDONESIA

To examine the genetic and antigenic characteristics of HIV-1 in Indon esia, samples from 19 HIV-positive volunteers were studied. By a combi nation of PCR typing and DNA sequence analysis, 12 of the 19 volunteer s were determined to be infected with HIV-1 clade B and seven with cla de E. Six of the seven Indonesian clade E isolates were from volunteer s associated with the Indonesian Military during a peacekeeping missio n in Cambodia. Infectivity reduction neutralization assays showed that the Indonesian E viruses were effectively neutralized by Thailand cla de E HIV-1 antisera but not by U.S. clade B antisera. The Indonesian c lade B virus tested was neutralized by U.S. clade B antisera and not b y the Thailand E antisera. Using a previously described serologic typi ng ELISA based on clade B and E V3 peptides, genetic clade was accurat ely determined in eight of eight sera tested. This is the first report of the genetic and antigenic analysis of HIV-1 isolates from Indonesi a. The data indicate that at least two genetic and antigenic HIV-1 cla des (clade E and B) circulate in Indonesia.