Highly variable sequences in the env V3 region of HIV type 1 distributing among Thai carriers from 1995 to 1997

The amino acid sequences of the Env V3 region of HIV-1 subtype E in Thailand were highly variable in the samples obtained from 1995 to 1997, compared with the previously reported sequences in samples obtained from 1990 to 1993. The sequences of the V3 region in the samples from five provinces in Thailand revealed that the variability was much higher in the samples from Bangkok and Ubonrachathani than in those from Chiangmai, Prathumthani, and Trang. There was no apparently different level of diversity at the V3 region in the samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. The V3 loop motif in most (66.7%) of the samples was GPGQ, although this motif was more heterogeneous in the samples from Bangkok and Ubonrachathani than in those from the other three provinces. The N-linked glycosylation sites in the V3 region among these samples were relatively conserved. There was no apparent difference in the presence of positively charged amino acids at positions 306 and 320 between the samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.