Study of HIV type 1 gag/env variability in The Gambia, using a multiplex DNA polymerase chain reaction.

A multiplex DNA PCR assay was developed for the simultaneous first-round amplification of HIV-1 gag and env fragments for the heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA). This assay was compared with the conventional amplification assay, using DNA extracted from PBMC samples from 30 HIV-1-seropositive individuals from The Gambia, who were enrolled between 1992 and 1997. From 27 of 30 (90%) samples both gag and env HMA fragments were amplified simultaneously. In one sample only the gag HMA fragment could be amplified by multiplex DNA PCR, and in two samples amplification was negative for both gag and env HMA in multiplex as well as the mono-DNA PCR. Of the 28 Gambian isolates subtyped by gag/env HMA or by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, the majority (19 of 28; 68%) were intersubtype recombinant. Fifteen of 28 (53%) samples were circulating recombinant form (CRF) CRF02.AG variants. Two isolates clustering with the previously documented Gambian isolate GM4 (previously described as an env GC recombinant) are classified as gag A/env J recombinants.