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HIV strains and kinds

TIPS

• There are two main main kinds of HIV – HIV-1 (the most typical) and HIV-2 (fairly less and uncommon infectious).
• Like numerous viruses, HIV has the capacity to mutate and alter in the long run – inside the primary forms of HIV there are lots of genetically distinct subgroups.
• Tests to identify HIV and monitor the amount of virus in your body which are responsive to the complete number of subtypes (and to cluster O and HIV-2) do occur, but may possibly not be easily available in every settings.

HIV-1 and HIV-2

HIV-1 and HIV-2 are two distinct viruses. Although tests that are responsive to both kinds of viruses are accessible, only 1 antibody test now available can specifically distinguish between antibodies to HIV-1 or HIV-2.

Global, the predominant virus is HIV-1. HIV-1 makes up around 95percent of all infections global. HIV-2 is projected to be much more than 55% genetically distinct from HIV-1.1

The reasonably unusual HIV-2 virus is focused in western Africa but happens to be observed in other nations with links to western Africa. It is less infectious and advances more slowly than HIV-1, resulting in less fatalities. Nevertheless, with no treatment, a lot of people managing HIV-2 will sooner or later advance to AIDS and perish through the disease.2 3

While numerous widely used antiretroviral medications are active against HIV-2, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) like nevirapine and efavirenz usually do not work against it. The way that is best to treat HIV-2 was less clearly defined than HIV-1.4

Teams within HIV-1

The strains of HIV-1 could be categorized into four groups.5 of those, M could be the group that is‘major is accountable for a lot of the international HIV epidemic.

One other three teams – N, O and P – can be unusual. Group O represents as much as 5% of infections in a number of west and central African countries, and Group N and P have already been seldom identified in Cameroon. All teams may be detected by HIV-1 antibody tests.

Subtypes within HIV-1 team M

Within team M you will find considered to be at the very least nine genetically distinct subtypes of HIV-1. They are subtypes A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J and K.

Furthermore, various subtypes can combine material that is genetic form a hybrid virus, referred to as a ‘circulating recombinant kind’ (CRFs). Around 89 of those are recognized to exist.6 7

The principal HIV subtype into the Americas, Western Europe and Australasia is subtype B. because of this, almost all of HIV research that is clinical been carried out in populations where subtype B predominates, regardless of this subtype representing just 12percent of international HIV infections.

On the other hand, less scientific studies are designed for subtype C, although almost 50% of most individuals coping with HIV have actually subtype C. it is extremely typical into the high prevalence nations of Southern Africa, along with the horn of Africa and Asia.

The best variety of subtypes can be found in Cameroon as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo – the spot where in fact the HIV-1 epidemic originated. But migration and populace blending means geographic habits into the circulation of subtypes are changing with time, and transmission that is predicting in specific areas in addition has be a little more difficult.8

Do distinctions in subtypes matter?

Some studies declare that particular subtypes have actually a higher threat of transmission or quicker illness development than the others – but more present research shows that this isn’t always the scenario.9 Having said that, antiretroviral medications (ARVs), although mainly tested in people who have subtype B, have actually generally been shown to be effective against an array of subtypes (though there is conflicting proof about the potency of protease inhibitors against subtype C virus.10 11 12 13

A far more practical concern will be the tests utilized to identify HIV and monitor the degree of virus in the human body (viral load). Tests which can be responsive to the complete number of subtypes (and to cluster O and HIV-2) do exist but may not be easily available in all settings. This really is a problem in places where diverse subtypes are commonplace.

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