Development of a nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay that uses gag-based molecular beacons to distinguish between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C and C' infections in Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT: A gag-based molecular beacon assay utilizing real-time nucleic acid sequence-based amplification technology has been developed to differentiate between the two genetic subclusters of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C (C and C') circulating in Ethiopia. Of 41 samples, 36 could be classified as C or C' by sequencing of the gag gene. All 36 isolates were correctly identified by the gag beacon test. Three isolates with genomes that were recombinant in gag were unambiguously typed as belonging to the C' subcluster. Further analysis revealed that these contained the most sequence homology with a reference subcluster C' sequence in the target region of the beacon and hence were correct for the analyzed region. For one sample, sequencing and gag molecular beacon results did not

SUBMITTER: Ayele W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC387546 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature