HIV-1 subtype G and BG recombinant viruses in Spanish natives: evidence of characteristic mutations in reverse transcriptase and protease.

Studies in Spain have described the presence of non-B subtype HIV-1 strains in immigrants and in natives of African countries. It is noted that drug resistance mutations have been reported in subtype B non-B subtypes and recombinant forms of HIV-1 in infected individuals. Thus in order to describe the patterns of reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease-associated mutations in non-B subtypes and recombinant forms of HIV-1 an analysis of all the different RT and protease amino acid substitutions in HIV-1 was conducted among Spanish patients. Overall the analysis of secondary mutations and polymorphisms showed that all subtype G viruses of the monophyletic group and one G subtype clone of the dually infected individual had the same RT and protease mutations. In determining the clinical relevance of these findings phenotypic resistance testing and biological characterization of G subtype viruses are needed. These data could reveal differences between B and G subtypes and their impact on the use of antiretroviral drugs.