Molecular Epidemiology of HIV and HCV Infection
in Taiwan and the Development of Most Sensitive
Diagnostic Methods to Detect SARS Corona
Virus and H1N1 Viruses
Yi-Ming Arthur Chen (陳宜民), M.D., Sc.D.
Dean, Office of R & D
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology
AIDS Prevention and Research Center
National Yang-Ming University
Adults and children estimated to be living with HIV, 2008
Western & Eastern Europe
Central Europe & Central Asia
850 000
North America
1.4 million
[1.2 – 1.6 million]
Caribbean
240 000
[710 000 – 970 000]
1.5 million
[1.4 – 1.7 million] East Asia
Middle East & North
Africa
[220 000 – 260 000]
310 000
[250 000 – 380 000]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Latin America
2.0 million
[1.8 – 2.2 million]
22.4 million
[20.8 – 24.1 million]
850 000
[700 000 – 1.0 million]
South & South-East
Asia
3.8 million
[3.4Oceania
– 4.3 million]
59 000
[51 000 – 68 000]
Total: 33.4 million (31.1 – 35.8 million)
Figure. Classification of human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV). HIV-1
recombinants are categorized into two class: circulating recombinant forms
(CRFs) and unique recombinant forms (URFs).
Takebe et al, Pediatr Int 2004
HIV-1 diversity in the worldwide epidemic.
聯合報2005年一月
台灣愛滋病毒感染者報告病例數依危險因子分析
注射藥癮者癮者
男同志及男雙性戀者
異性戀者
Chen et al, Lancet, 369: 623-625, 2007.
BC亞型基因重組病毒株（CRF07_BC）傳到台灣來的可能路徑
Chen and Kuo, Lancet 2007.
Molecular Epidemiology of HIV-1 Infection and Full-Length
Genomic Analysis of Circulating Recombinant Form 07_BC
Strains from Injection Drug Users in Taiwan
Lin et al. JID 2007;195:1283-1293.
Phylogenetic analysis of
HIV-1 strains in Taiwanese
IDUs.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2010;53:425–439
Sharing dissolved heroine solution is a neglected risk
factor associated with HIV-1 infection
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2010;53:425–439
Hepatitis C Virus
Genotypes 1~6 (30% variation), many subtypes
(20% variation)
Genotype
Assigned subtypes
1
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m
2
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, l, m
3
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k
4
a, c, d, e, f, g, h, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t
5
a
6
a, b, d, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q
HCV SEQUENCE DATA BASE
Subjects


Selected all IDU samples which were infected with CRF07_BC
before 2003 and random sampling CRF07_BC cases which was
infected in 2004,2005 classified by northern, central, southern
Taiwan each 50.
Selected all samples infected with HIV-1 B type and CRF01_AE
CRF_07BC
Northern Taiwan
(Taipei prison,
Tucheng detention
center)
n=50
Central Taiwan
（Taichung, Nantou
detention center,
Yunlin 2nd prison）
n=50
South Taiwan
（Tainan detention
center）
B type
CRF01_AE
Total
n=50
n=20
n=10
n=180
HCV genotyping using multiplex RT-PCR assay with specific primers
J Formosa Med Asso, in press, 2010.
Phylogenetic analyses of three HCV subtype 6w strains
using maximum likelihood
Diversity plot of the HCV RF_2b6w strain
Summary of the Molecular Epi Studies

The Taiwanese CRF07_BC strains had 97% fulllength sequence homology with the prototype
from mainland China. CRF07_BC was first
introduced into the southern region in 2002 and
then spread to other regions in Taiwan in 2004.

With HIV-1 CRF07_BC disseminating in Taiwan
IDUs, there were new HCV subtypes emerging in
Taiwan, eg., 6w.

About 13% of HIV-1-infected IDUs had mixed
HCV infection and multiplex RT-PCR with specific
primers method is suitable for the detection of
such mixed HCV infection.
Localized Surface Plasmon Coupled Fluorescence Fiberoptic Biosensor and It’s Biomedical Applications (LSPCFFOB)
表面電漿共振原理:藉由雷射激發金膜，而促使金膜產生表面電漿波，當coating在
上面的antibody有binding上antigen protein時，其共振角會改變而detector就偵測反
射角的變化來判斷是否有protein被抓住。
Conventional antigen capture ELISA
Successfully detected at concentrations
as low as 12.5 - 25ng/ml in PBS.
Successfully detected at concentrations
as low as 0.78 – 1.56 ng/ml in diluted
GST-N protein test in LSPCF fiber-optic biosensor
Successfully detected at concentrations
as low as 0.1pg/ml in PBS.
Successfully detected at concentrations
as low as 0.1pg/ml in diluted serum.
Acknowledgements
National Yang-Ming University:
Prof. Chen’s Lab:
Jer-Yuan Shiu，Shwu-Jen Tzeng，KuanHsuan Chen，Hsiao-Han Liu，Cheng-Ming
Lee，Chia-Yen Chen ，Jung-Hsien Hung，
Chia-Hung Yen ，Pei-Chun Chuang，YingShiuan Li，Yi-Jen Liao，Ching-Ping Yang,
Shih-Ping Liu, Shih-Yin Chen, Yu-Chuen
Huang, Yu-Ching Lan
Academia Sinica:
Ying-Hue Lee, Michael
Hsiao, Chen Chang, LeeYoung Chau
Chung-Hsing University:
En-Pei Chiang
Chang-Gung University:
Ling-Ling Hsieh
Inst. of Env. and Occu. Health Sci.:
Tsung-Yun Liu
NHRI: Shiu-Feng Huang
Department of Life Sci :
Ting-Fen Tsai，Fen-Hwa Wong
Taipei VGH: Anna Fen-Yau
Inst. of Micro. and Immuno.: Chi-Hung Lin
Li，Teh-Ying Chou, Wing-Wai
Wong
Inst. of Biophotonic: Fu-Jen Kao
Taiwan CDC
Inst. of Biochem. and Mol. Biol.:
Yan-Hwa Wu Lee
Jyh-Yuan Yang, Steve Kuo
Supported by NYMU, NSC, DOH and MOE
Thank you for your attention
and welcome to Taiwan