Molecular epidemiology of HIV and the genetic factors influencing AIDS disease progression in Asia

(1)亚洲地区HIV分子流行病学研究：在亚洲多个研究点开展HIV分子流行病学调查，探讨HIV与周边地区及不同高危人群的相互关系。在中国，我们发现IDU/前血浆供体（FPD）与异性恋者之间的流行密切相关。特别是HIV-1亚型B，即导致中国中部悲剧性疫情的毒株，被发现在异性恋者中占主导地位。因此，迫切需要采取有效措施，预防中国普通人群的感染。随着时间的推移，HIV-1的命名系统变得非常复杂。造成当前大流行的主要HIV-1毒株，即HIV-1 M组，迄今已被分类为至少11种亚型和亚亚型以及34种循环重组形式（crf）。我们在马来西亚的IDU和异性恋者中确定了第33个CRF （CRF33_01B）。这是日本一个研究小组报告的第一个获得国际艾滋病毒序列数据库正式批准的CRF。(2)影响艾滋病进展的病毒和宿主因素的调查：艾滋病进展的速度受几个因素的影响很大，最重要的是病毒和宿主因素。我们首次在亚洲长期无进展的患者中发现了nef-LTR区域总缺失的CRF01_AE感染病例。这是在非B亚型菌株中发现的第一例nef-LTR缺失，与较慢的疾病进展有关。对于宿主因素，Dr.Shioda和他的同事在泰国进行的研究中证实了IL4-589T和RANTES-28G对HV疾病进展的显著保护作用。这些发现可能为了解艾滋病毒/艾滋病在亚洲流行的起源和未来预防艾滋病毒在亚洲传播的疫苗战略提供关键信息。

(1)Molecular epidemiology of HIV in Asia :We investigated the molecular epidemiology of HIV in several study sites in Asia to elucidate the interrelationships of the epidemics with those of surrounding regions and of different risk populations. In China, we found the close Interrelationships of the epidemics between IDU/former plasma donor (FPD) and heterosexuals. In particular, HIV-1 subtype B, the strain responsible for the tragic outbreaks In central China, is found to predominate among heterosexuals. This urges the urgent need for implementation of effective measures to prevention the Infections into general population in China.HIV-1 nomenclature system is becoming very complicated as the time goes by. A major HIV-1 strain, HIV-1 group M, responsible for the current pandemic is classified at least 11 subtypes and subsubtypes and 34 circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) so far. We identified the 33rd CRF (CRF33_01B) among IDU and heterosexuals in Malaysia. This is the first CRF reported from a research group in Japan that was officially approved by international HIV sequence databases.(2)Investigation of virus and host factors influencing the disease progression to AIDS :The rate of disease progression to AIDS is influenced greatly by several factors : most Importantly viral and host factors. We for the first time identified the case of CRF01_AE infection with gross deletions in nef-LTR regions among a long-term nonprogressor in Asia. This is the first case of nef-LTR deletion found among nonsubtype B strains, associated with slower disease progression. For the host factors, Dr.Shioda and his colleagues confirmed the significant protective effect of IL4-589T and RANTES-28G on HV disease progression in their study conducted in Thailand.These findings could provide the information critical for understanding the genesis of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asia and for the future vaccine strategies to prevent HIV spread in Asia.