Various Types of HIV Mixed Infections in Cameroon

AbstractIn order to assess the incidence of HIV mixed infection as well as to clarify the molecular epidemiology of HIV in central Africa, we investigated 43 HIVs obtained from 211 Cameroonian AC, ARC, and AIDS patients in 1994 and 1995. Part of thepolregion and part of theenvregion were phylogenetically analyzed. The genotypes observed were varied: of 43 specimens, 28 (65%) were subtype A, 1 (2%) was subtype B, 2 (5%) were subtype D, 3 (7%) were subtype F, and 2 (5%) were group O. Of the remaining 7 specimens, 3 were mixed infections with HIV-1 subtypes A and C, HIV-1 subtypes C and F, and HIV-2 subtype A and HIV-1 subtype A; 1 was a mixed infection with HIV-1 subtypes A and D and the highly divergent group O (triple infection); another 3 appeared to consist of mosaic genomes (A/G, A/E, and B/A recombinant). These data show that various types of mixed infection, such as between different subtypes of HIV-1 group M, between HIV-1 and HIV-2, and even between HIV-1 groups O and M, were confirmed at a rather high frequency (approximately 10%). The mixed infection is particularly significant where there is a greater variety of HIV-1 subtypes circulating, since it results in new genetic diversity generated by intersubtype recombination

Antibacterial and antifungal activity of the essential oil extracted by hydro-distillation from Artemesia Annua grown in

Abstract: This study was carried out to assess the in vitro antimicrobial potential of the Essential Oil (EO) extracted by hydro-distillation from the variety of A. annua grown in West Cameroon. This evaluation was conducted by testing the microbial growth inhibition through agar diffusion, minimal inhibitory and minimal lethal concentrations. Tested microorganisms included bacteria isolates belonging to the following categories: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, Shigella flexneri, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Vibrio cholerae. This activity was also tested on a dimorphic fungal species, Candida albicans. Data analysis revealed that the EO possessed an intrinsic antimicrobial activity that was potentiated by the solvent (DMSO). Inhibition zone diameters varied from 6 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Shigella flexneri) to 45 mm (Vibrio cholerae). It was also observed that Vibrio cholerae was susceptible to the lowest concentration of the essential oil used (0.3 mg/mL), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was shown to tolerate the highest (80 mg/mL). Also, the minimal inhibitory and lethal concentrations were equal (MLC/MIC = 1), implying the absolute lethal property of the oil. This lethal potential on fungi, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria makes of this plant an appropriate candidate for new conventional antimicrobial drug production and infectious disease prevention. Well exploited, it might be used to control the current epidemics of Vibrio cholerae-associated cholera in Cameroon. Additional studies should also be conducted to lay down reliable basis for comprehensive test interpretations that take into account correlations between these in vitro test results and the ones that would be obtained with conventional antimicrobials

Breakpoint analysis for rare, complex recombinants endemic to Cameroon.

<p>Bootscan plots are shown for <b>(A)</b> CRF11_cpx, <b>(B)</b> CRF13_cpx, <b>(C)</b> CRF18_cpx and <b>(D)</b> CRF37_cpx isolates. In each panel the profile for a reference strain is shown on top and a representative new strain is on the bottom. Vertical dashed lines indicate recombination breakpoints determined by Find Site; genome structure is diagramed below each plot. Bootscan analysis was performed using a window of 400 base pairs and 20 base pair step.</p

Full genome bootscanning reveals the true extent of recombination.

<p>Sequences 920–49 <b>(A)</b> and 789–10 <b>(B)</b> were evaluated in SIMPLOT against pure subtype reference sequences and both found to be subtype G throughout the genome (red line). Specimen 876–14 <b>(C)</b> and 1252–11 <b>(D)</b> were subjected to SIMPLOT bootscanning analysis; the vertical dashed lines indicate recombination breakpoints. The genomic structure is diagramed below each bootscan plot. Bootscan and SIMPLOT analysis was performed using a window of 400 base pairs and 20 base pair step.</p

Phylogenetic trees of HPgV indicate Cameroon sequences group with genotype 1.

<p>Phylogenetic trees of 56 HPgV <b>(A)</b> complete genome sequences (8851 nt after degapping) and <b>(B)</b> 5’UTR sequences (366 nt) of 8 Cameroonian sequenced by NGS in this study, were constructed with bootstrap values indicated at each branch. GBV-C<i>tro</i> was used as the outgroup and the genetic distance scale is indicated. References are labeled individually with accession number and country of origin; Cameroonian sequences are in bold text.</p

Phylogeny of full length genomes obtained by NGS illustrates HIV diversity in Cameroon.

<p>A phylogenetic tree of 92 HIV-1 complete genome reference sequences and 25 Cameroonian sequences was constructed from a 7387 bp gap-stripped alignment with bootstrap values indicated at each branch. Group O strain ANT70 was used as the outgroup and the genetic distance scale is indicated.</p

HIV genome coverage is uniform and complete but varies in sequence depth.

<p>Three representative specimens sequenced by NGS with a wide range in percentage of HIV reads were selected and aligned to the A1-AF004885 reference genome to demonstrate the uniformity of genome coverage regardless of read depth. Coverage is expressed as number of reads at each nucleotide position along the length of the HIV genome. Strain/mean read number: 833-62/1085, green; 886-24/223, orange; B4043-15/7939, blue.</p