Characteristic and dynamic of HIV-1 subtype distribution in men who have sex with men in Guangzhou, 2008-2015 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the characteristics and dynamic of HIV-1 subtype distribution in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangzhou between 2008 and 2015. Methods: HIV-1 RNAs were extracted from serum samples of the individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1 infection among MSM living in Guangzhou between 2008 and 2015. The pol gene segments of HIV-1 genome from these RNA samples were amplified by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) and were sequenced. Subsequently, the phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using pol sequences of samples and references together and the subtype of HIV-1 was determined. The distributions of HIV-1 subtypes detected in MSM with different demographic characteristics in different years were compared. Results: A total of 2 210 pol gene segments were successfully obtained from 2 473 serum samples of the MSM. The average age of 2 210 MSM was 30.19 years with standard deviation of 8.22 years, the unmarried MSM and those in Han ethnic group accounted for 73.39% and 90.81%, respectively. The proportion of subtype CRF07_BC (38.10%) was highest, followed by CRF01_AE (34.84%), CRF55_01B (14.62%), B (6.06%), URFs (3.58%), CRF59_01B (2.17%) and other subtypes (0.63%). The annual proportions of subtype B (P=0.000, 99%CI:0.000-0.000), CRF07_BC (χ(2)=14.965, P=0.036), CRF55_01B (χ(2)=18.161, P=0.011) and URFs (P=0.001, 99% CI: 0.000-0.001) were significantly different. The proportion of subtype B showed a gradual decrease from 14.08% to 4.33% (P=0.000, 99%CI: 0.000-0.000), while the proportion of URFs rapidly increased from 0% to 6.40% (P=0.000, 99% CI: 0.000-0.000). The rate of URFs was significantly higher in farmers and migrant workers than in other groups (P=0.017, 99%CI: 0.014- 0.020) and the rate of URFs was higher in individuals who had multi sexual partners (χ(2)=5.733, P=0.017). Conclusions: CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE were the predominant HIV-1 subtypes and multiple subtypes co-circulated among MSM in Guangzhou between 2008 and 2015. The recombinations of HIV-1 continue to occur in MSM. Strengthening behavioral intervention for farmers, migrant workers and individuals who have multi sexual partners has the important epidemiological significance against the emerging and circulating of the novel recombinant virus among MSM in Guangzhou.

Transmitted drug resistance among HIV infected men who have sex with men in Tianjin, 2014-2017 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand prevalence and transmission of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) among HIV infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tianjin from 2014 to 2017. Methods: A total of 225 blood samples were collected from HIV infected MSM in Tianjin from 2014 to 2017. Pol gene fragments were obtained by viral RNA extraction and nested PCR amplification. Phylogenetic and drug resistance analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 205 samples were successfully sequenced and analyzed. Based on pol sequences, 53.2% (109/205), 28.8% (59/205), 10.2% (21/205), 4.9% (10/205) and 2.9% (6/205) of the samples were positive for HIV subtypes CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, B, CRF55_01B and unique recombinant forms (URFs). Twenty transmission clusters, including 75 sequences, were identified and 62.5% (10/16) of sequences with TDR were in 5 clusters. The prevalence of TDR was 7.8% between 2014 and 2017. The annual prevalence rate increased from 3.9% (2/51) in 2014, 5.7% (3/53) in 2015, 9.6% (5/52) in 2016 to 12.2%(6/49) in 2017, the difference was not significant (χ(2)=2.504, P=0.127). CRF01_AE and B strains had high TDR prevalence (3.4%, 7/205) and (2.9%, 6/205), respectively. The TDR mutation was mainly NNRTIs, the TDR prevalence was 6.3% (13/205). In contract, the TDR prevalence of NRTIs and PIs were 1.5% (3/205) and 1.0% (2/205) respectively. Conclusion: Results from this study suggested that the prevalence of HIV-1 TDR strains in MSM was serious in Tianjin. It is necessary to take effective prevention and control measures.

Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus DNA in HIV Positive Women in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Lagos, Nigeria.

Introduction: HIV-infected women have a high prevalence of Human Papilloma virus (HPV) infection and are more likely to be infected with high risk genotypes with the potential of progressing to cervical cancer. There is paucity of data regarding the prevalence of sexually transmitted HPV infection among HIV positive women in Nigeria. Aims: The objective of this cross-sectional prospective study was to determine the prevalence of high risk HPV among HIV positive and negative women in LUTH, Lagos, Nigeria and to relate HPV genotypes in the study population to commercially available HPV vaccine types that would be or not be appropriate for implementation of vaccination programs in Lagos State. Place and Duration of Study: AIDS Prevention Initiative In Nigeria (APIN) clinic as well as the Gynecologic outpatient clinic of LUTH, Lagos between August 2011 and August 2012. Methodology: A combination of PCR and flow through hybridization method was used in the genotyping of HPV from samples obtained from 98 HIV positive and 97 HIV negative women. Data was analyzed using Epi info 3.5.6. Non parametric variables were compared with chi-square or Fisher exact test as appropriate. The differences in mean for parametric variables were compared using student T test. P value <0.05 were considered significant. Results: The prevalence of HPV among HIV positive women was 44.9% while the prevalence of high risk types was 37.5%. The commonest high risk types seen were types 31, 52, 53 and 35. The prevalence of HPV among the HIV negative women was 11%. The commonest high risk types seen were types 18, 16, 52 and 56. Conclusion: In view of the high prevalence and diversity of HPV genotypes among the HIV positive women, adequate screening protocols should be put in place for screening this category of women. Studies should also be carried out to determine the efficacy of existent HPV vaccines on this group of patients.

Implicación del alelo CCR5-Δ32 en la progresión clínica de pacientes VIH-1+ en Yucatán, México / CCR5-Δ32 allele involvement in the clinical evolution of HIV1+ patients in Yucatán, Mexico

OBJETIVO: Establecer la frecuencia y la relación del alelo CCR5-Δ32 con la infección y la progresión clínica de pacientes VIH+ y en individuos expuestos seronegativos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se analizaron 355 muestras, 62 VIH+, 51 individuos expuestos seronegativos y 242 de la población general. Los VIH+ se subdividieron en: a) progresores normales n= 49; b) progresores lentos n= 10, y c) no progresores n= 3. RESULTADOS: Se identificó el genotipo wt/Δ32 en 17.7 por ciento de los VIH+, 13.7 por ciento de los individuos expuestos seronegativos y 6.2 por ciento en la población general. El genotipo Δ32/Δ32 se encontró en 3.9 por ciento de los individuos expuestos seronegativos. Según la progresión clínica de los VIH+, se identificó el genotipo wt/Δ32 en 10.2 por ciento de los progresores normales, 30 por ciento de los progresores lentos y en 100 por ciento de los no progresores. CONCLUSIÓN: El genotipo wt/Δ32 se observó en todos los no progresores, lo que apoya su papel en esta forma de progresión clínica en este grupo.

OBJECTIVE: CCR5-Δ32 allele frequency needs to be identified in HIV+ patients and exposed seronegative individuals in Yucatan, Mexico, to understand this mutation's relationship to infection and disease progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 355 samples were analyzed: 62 from HIV+ patients, 51 from exposed seronegative individuals and 242 from general population. Infected patients were subdivided into a) normal progressors n= 49; b) slow progressors n= 10, and c) non-progressors n= 3. RESULTS: Genotype wt/Δ32 was identified in 17.7 percent of HIV+, 13.7 percent of exposed seronegative individuals and 6.2 percent of general population. Genotype Δ32/Δ32 was identified in 3.9 percent of exposed seronegative individuals. In infected patients, wt/Δ32 was identified in 10.2 percent of normal progressors, 30 percent of slow progressors and 100 percent of non-progressors. CONCLUSION: Genotype wt/Δ32 was observed in all non-progressing HIV+ patients, supporting its role in this group's disease development and clinical evolution.

The first report of CCR5 delta 32 mutant in Thai injecting drug users.

CCR5, a chemokine receptor, is the principal coreceptor for macrophage-tropic HIV-1 which is the most important variant for viral transmission. It has been demonstrated that a homozygous genotype of a 32-bp deletion in CCR5 gene (delta32CCR5) shows a high degree of resistance to HIV-1 infection. To demonstrate that delta32CCR5 does exist in Thai natives, the CCR5 genotypes and allelic frequencies in 860 Thai injecting drug users (IDUs) were determined by PCR and DNA sequencing. Of these, six (0.7%) were CCR5/delta32CCR5 heterozygotes and no homozygote was found. The overall delta32CCR5 allelic frequency was 0.0035 and in HIV-1 seronegative (n = 490) and seropositive (n = 370) IDUs were 0.0051 and 0.0004, respectively, which were not significantly different (p = 0.3776). Here we report that the delta32CCR5 does exist in Thai IDUs as it is present in other human races. Such low allelic frequency may indicate that this mutation does not attribute a significant role in HIV-1 transmission in Thai IDUs.

CCR5 chemokine receptor genotype frequencies among Puerto Rican HIV-1-seropositive individuals

Some individuals remain uninfected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), despite multiple sexual contacts with subjects with confirmed HIV-1 infection. Several studies have confirmed that individuals who are homozygous for a 32 base pair (bp) deletion mutation in the chemokine receptor gene CCR5, designated as delta 32/ delta 32, are protected against HIV-1 infection. Heterozygotes of the same chemokine receptor deletion mutation are, however, not protected from acquiring HIV-1 infection but seemingly have slower progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndromes (AIDS). Genotype frequencies of the delta 32 CCR5 mutation vary markedly among different ethnic groups; heterozygosity is found in approximately 15% of Caucasians, about 5-7% of Hispanics and African Americans and 1% or less of Asians. The ethnic background of Puerto Ricans is highly complex and usually includes admixture of Caucasian, Caribbean Indian and African traits to a varying extent. This study was conducted to examine the frequencies of the delta 32 CCR5 mutation among Puerto Ricans who are infected with HIV-1. Samples were received from different geographical regions of the island. Of 377 samples tested, 94.2% were wild type (non-deletion mutant) homozygotes, 5.8% were delta 32 CCR5 heterozygotes, and none were delta 32 CCR5 homozygotes. The incidence of CCR5 delta 32/w heterozygous mutation among Puerto Ricans seems to be somewhat lower than what was reported with US Hispanics. Some age and gender associated bias of the mutation frequency were observed with the study population, the reason for which is unclear at present