Human immunodeficiency viruses type I subtypes circulating in Spain

Genetic subtypes of Human immunodeficiency viruses type 1 (HIV-1) were inve stigated in 101 HIV-1-infected individuals living in Spain from 1993 to 199 8. Samples selected randomly from the HIV clinic population included 29 Spa nish native born subjects (28.7%) and 72 foreigners (71.3%). Proviral DNA e xtracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or viral RNA isola ted from plasma was amplified, and endonuclease restriction analysis was ca rried our on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis on the HIV-I protease region enabled t he characterisation of the different HIV genotypes infecting these individu als. Overall, 38 subjects (37.6%) carried non-B subtypes (A in 26, C in 2, D in 1, E in 2, and F in 7), 31 (81.6%) of them being immigrants. Direct se quence analysis of PCR products and/or a specific serological assay confirm ed the data obtained by RFLP in most individuals tested. In conclusion, dif ferent HIV-1 subtypes are circulating currently in Spain, with non-B HIV-1 subtypes being confined mostly to immigrants. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.