SEROREACTIVITY TO HIV-1 V3 SUBTYPE-A TO SUBTYPE-H PEPTIDES OF ARGENTINEAN HIV-POSITIVE SERA

Serologic assays could be useful for determining circulating subtypes in different geographic regions. A total of 175 serum samples from the same number of Argentinian HIV-infected patients from Buenos Aires an d Rosario were tested against a panel of peptides representing V3 cons ensus subtypes A through H. A V3 peptide enzyme immunoassay was used f or screening the sera. Most sera were reactive with peptides represent ing subtypes B (55.28%), F (13.14%), and A (8.57%). Cross-reactivity b etween the remainder of the peptides was observed, Genotypes of eight patients from Rosario were determined and compared with serotyping. Re sults showed that seven of eight genotyped patients reacted with their respective consensus B peptide and one reacted with consensus B and F . V3 peptide serology proved to be useful or determining HIV-1 clades circulating in Argentina.