Interaction with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 predicts HIV type 1 genotype

In West Africa, India, and certain regions of Europe, both human immunodefi ciency viruses types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) are known to cocirculate. To investigate the HIV-1 subtypes involved in dual HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections , we sequenced the envelope C2-V3 region from 29 dually infected female com mercial sex workers from Senegal. The majority of women (23 of 91) were inf ected by HIV-1 subtype A. Within the HIV-1 subtype A sequences, 14 of 23 (6 0.8%) clustered with the West African associated A/G recombinant form (IbNG ), and 9 of 23 (39.2%) formed a separate cluster distinct from the A/G IbNG . In contrast, in HIV-1 singly infected individuals, non-IbNG subtype A was found in only 13 of 98 (13.3%). Therefore, the lack of protection and/or i nteraction with HIV-2 was associated with a distinct HIV-1 A genotype. Thes e results suggest differences in the biological properties of HIV-1 genotyp es and their in vivo interaction with HIV-2. (C) 2000 Academic Press.