HHV6A/B MOLECULAR GENETIC DIVERSITY IN HIV-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS



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Abstract

Human herpesviruses 6A and 6B (HHV6A, HHV6B) are ubiquitous pathogens with lifelong host persistence. HHV6A/B infection often accompanies HIV infection, however, data on the interaction between the two viruses are contradictory. The discrepancy in study results assessing an impact of HHV6A/B on the course of HIV infection may be due to the molecular genetic variability related to betaherpesviruses. The aim of this work was to assess the molecular genetic diversity of HHV6A and HHV6B in HIV-infected adults in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Materials and methods. Blood leukocyte isolates from the blood leukocytes collected from 138 HIV-infected patients (HIV(+)) and 68 HIV-uninfected (HIV(-)) individuals were studied. HHV6A/B species were identified by PCR with agarose gel electrophoresis. Nucleotide sequences of the U90A (206 bp) and U90B (431 bp) gene fragments were obtained by Sanger sequencing. The intra-species genovariant of the examined betaherpesviruses was determined based on signature nucleotide substitutions of the sequenced sequences and in accordance with the author's classification. Results. HHV6A/B DNA was detected in 39% of HIV(+) and 46% of HIV(-) examined individuals. HHV6A (genovariant GV3a) was identified in one HIV(+) sample. The remaining samples from both groups contained HHV6B. In the group of HIV-infected patients, dominant genovariants GV1a, GV2b, and GV2e (~30% each) were evenly distributed, and the minor GV2a (7,3%) was also detected. In the group of clinically healthy virus carriers, genovariant GV2e predominated (72,4%), while GV1a and GV2b were less common. The likelihood of detecting GV2e decreased (OR=0,18 (0,04; 0,76), p=0,031), whereas that of for GV1a and GV2b variants increased (in both cases OR=5,48 (1,31; 28,52), p=0,016) in HIV(+) individuals compared to control group. Analyzing age pattern for HHV6B genovariants showed that in HIV-infected patients, the diversity of genovariants declines with decreasing patient age. Сonclusion. The data obtained evidence about a need to investigate molecular genetic diversity of HHV6A and HHV6B to effectively diagnose and interpret related results in patients with HIV infection.

About the authors

Nikita A. Suslov

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation

Email: suslovnikita.2000@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0006-1407-6884
SPIN-code: 5168-7308

Laboratory Assistant, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Russian Federation, Нижний Новгород

Elena N. Filatova

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation

Email: el.filatova83@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6683-7191
SPIN-code: 1986-8147

PhD (Biology), Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Russian Federation, Nizhny Novgorod

Stella V. Minaeva

Privolzhskiy Research Medical University, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russian Federation

Email: mistella@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-9476-6214
SPIN-code: 7707-4985

PhD (Мedicine), Associate Professor of the Epidemiology, Microbiology and Evidence-Based Medicine Department

Russian Federation, Нижний Новгород

Nikolai A. Sakharnov

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation

Email: sakharnov_n@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3965-2033
SPIN-code: 8457-3501

Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Russian Federation, Nizhniy Novgorod

Oleg V. Utkin

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation

Author for correspondence.
Email: utkino2004@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7571-525X
SPIN-code: 1174-6500

PhD (Biology), Head of Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Russian Federation, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod, Malaya Yamskaya st., 71

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