Abstract
It has been reported that subtypes A throughout H of HIV-1 are circulating in the former Soviet Union. In this sequence note, we analyzed the genetic prevalence of HIV-1 among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Ukraine. The subjects studied included two individuals from Kiev and six individuals from Simferopol', the latter located in the Crimean Peninsula. We found that one of eight IDUs was infected with a CRF03 gagA/envB recombinant HIV-1 and was from Simferopol', whereas the others were infected with HIV-1 subtype A. The recombinant was closely related to other A/B recombinants reported previously, and had silent mutations in the V3 region, the same as other envB strains of HIV-1 circulating among IDUs in the former Soviet Union. The data supported reports that the Russian A/B recombinant HIV-1 was probably from Ukraine. This is the first report of a CRF03 gagA/envB recombinant HIV-1 found in Ukraine.
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