A new very tenacious form of HIV is distributed in Russia

In Russia, a new genetic version of HIV has been discovered actively spreading throughout the country. It was discovered by experts of the VB GNC "Vector" in the Koltsovo science (Novosibirsk Region), the local portal "Scientific and Press" reports.

During the study, scientists studied 17 blood serum samples taken from people infected with one of the two types of human immunodeficiency virus - HIV -1. Nine studied genetic options were already known subtips A, B and recombinant form 02_AG. The remaining eight genomes belonged to a new recombinant form - 02_ag/a.

As the researchers explain, each of the two types of virus (HIV-1 and HIV-2) has many subtipes. For example, a subtip with HIV -1 is common in Africa, subtip A (I) - in Russia, subtip B - in the USA and European countries. If a human cage enters the cage of a human cell, can exchange genetic material - this is how the process of recombination takes place. Recombinant forms of the virus appear, each of which receives a serial number. 02_AG, for example, appeared as a result of a combination of the genetic material of subtipa A and G HIV-1.

The new version of the virus discovered in Russia is a compound of the recombinant form 02_AG and the “Russian” version of subtip A. The first cases of infection in this form in the Novosibirsk region were registered back in 2006.

Now, according to scientists, it accounts for more than 50% of new cases of HIV infection. With a high speed, the virus spreads not only in the Siberian region (in Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk), its appearance was registered in the Chechen Republic, in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

According to the factory of the Retrovirus "Vector" Natalia Gashnikova, this form of HIV-1 may turn out to be the most viable variant of the virus in Russia. It is possible that it will spread much faster than a subtip A.