Aanalysis of Western blot band patterns in HIV-1 antibody positive cases

Abstract

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and Western blot (WB) band patterns of HIV antibody in individuals with HIV-1 antibody positive in Jiangmen city, in order to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of AIDS. Methods Band patterns of HIV-1 antibodies were assessed by Western blot, while CD4+T cells were counted by flow cytometer. Demographic characteristics of these HIV-1 antibody positive patients were analyzed. Results Of the total 214 HIV-1 antibody positive cases, 156(72.90%) were males, with mean age of 44.70±14.00 years. Patients with CD4+T lymphocytes≤350/μL accounted for 68.69%. The WB band pattern was predominated by subtotal bands, with absence of p55 and p17 in most of the cases. Only the p55 band differed significantly between males and females (χ2=4.41, P=0.036). The positive rates of gp41 and p51 varied significantly with HIV transmission route (gp41: χ2=16.31, P<0.01; p51: χ2=8.75, P=0.013). In addition, the antibodies against viral proteins differed among subjects with different immune status (gp41:χ2=9.26, P=0.010; p24: χ2=5.35, P=0.035; p17: χ2=21.37, P<0.01). Conclusions Newly confirmed cases of HIV-1 antibody positive are mainly young and middle-aged subjects in Jiangmen. Delayed diagnosis is still an issue. Targeted education on the prevention of HIV infections and routine surveillance should be improved. Moreover, we could take full advantage of the information on WB band patterns and the results of initial CD4+T lymphocyte count to determine individual immune status before antiviral therapy, and to evaluate the progress of disease, and prevention and control of AIDS.

Keywords

• hiv
• western blotting
• analysis