Serologic assays could be useful for determining circulating subtypes in different geographic regions. A total of 175 serum samples from the same number of Argentinian HIV-infected patients from Buenos Aires and Rosario were tested against a panel of peptides representing V3 consensus subtypes A through H. A V3 peptide enzyme immunoassay was used for screening the sera. Most sera were reactive with peptides representing subtypes B (58.28%), F (13.14%), and A (8.57%). Cross-reactivity between the remainder of the peptides was observed. Genotypes of eight patients from Rosario were determined and compared with serotyping. Results showed that seven of eight genotyped patients reacted with their respective consensus B peptide and one reacted with consensus B and F. V3 peptide serology proved to be useful for determining HIV-1 clades circulating in Argentina.
PIP: 175 serum samples were collected from 175 HIV-infected Argentineans in Buenos Aires and Rosario during 1987-95, for testing against a panel of peptides representing V3 consensus HIV-1 subtypes A through H. A V3 peptide enzyme immunoassay was used to screen the sera. 58.28% of the sera were infected with HIV-1 subtype B, 13.14% with subtype F, 8.57% with subtype A, 4% with subtype H, 2.85% with subtype D, 2.28% with subtype G, and 1.71% with subtype C. Some cross-reactivity between peptides was observed. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 8 HIV-infected subjects from Rosario for use in determining genotypes. 7 of the 8 genotyped patients reacted with their respective consensus B peptide and 1 reacted with consensus B and F. V3 peptide serology proved useful in determining which HIV-1 clades are circulating in Argentina.