Variability of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infecting patients living in France

To determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) subtypes circulating in France and to identify possible relationships between these subtypes and pathogenesis, we studied 33 HIV-2-infected patients living in France. HIV-2 DNA was directly amplified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by nested PCR with specific HIV-2 env primers, and the env gene was sequenced. The serological consequences of antigenic variability were studied by using a panel of peptides and by Western blotting. Phylogenetic analysis classified the 33 HIV-2 strains as subtype A (n = 23) or B (n = 10). There were no significant clinical or epidemiological differences between patients infected with either of these two subtypes. There was some evidence for geographical clustering. Subtype A strains from patients originating from the Cape Verde Islands and Guinea Bissau clustered together. The majority of patients infected with subtype B strains originated from the Ivory Coast or Mali. Strains from patients originating in Mali also clustered in subtype A but distinctly from the Cape Verde or Guinea Bissau strains. The subtype B strains showed greater diversity and included some highly divergent strains relative to those previously characterized. The V3 loop of HIV-2 subtypes A and B was found to be quite conserved in comparison with HIV-1. A strong HIV-2 subtype B serological cross-reactivity was found on HIV-1 env antigen by Western blot mostly in the gp41 transmembrane glycoprotein. This could partly explain the double HIV-1 and HIV-2 reactive profiles found in countries where HIV-2 subtype B is prevalent. © 2001 Academic Press.