Heterosexual Transmission as a CRF01_AE HIV-1 Spread Factor in Mimika Papua

Abstract

The HIV epidemic has particular characteristic on each region. The genetic diversity of HIV-1 would affect variability of HIV virus that could potentially most virulent, pathogenic and high transmission rate. Thus it triggers the disease progresivity more rapidly and caused  a new pandemic of HIV infection. The aim of the study is determine the genetic characteristics of HIV-1 on patient with heterosexual transmission based on gene fragment encoding the glycoprotein-41 (gp41) of HIV envelope. Descriptive analytic method and cross sectional design were attended on VCT clinic Mitra Masyarakat Mimika in March-May 2015. Samples of blood plasma from patient with HIV-1 sexual transmission wer amplified using RT-PCR and nested PCR. Genetic characteristics were analyzed with DNA Sequencing using software Bioedit and Mega 5. Identification using sequence analysis  showed two subtypes of HIV patient in Mimika, which were CRF01_AE and B subtypes. There were 40 patients (87%) identified as having genetic characteristics CRF01_AE. Subtypes B was also identified in 6 heterosexual patients. This study suggest that CRF01_AE have heterosexual transmission risk higher than subtype B. Predominance of CRF01_AE contribute to the rapid spread of the HIV epidemic in Mimika