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Journal article

HIV-1 subtype diversity, transmission networks and transmitted drug resistance amongst acute and early infected MSM populations from Coastal Kenya

Abstract:

Background

HIV-1 molecular epidemiology amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa remains not well characterized. We aimed to determine HIV-1 subtype distribution, transmission clusters and transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in acute and early infected MSM from Coastal Kenya.

Methods

Analysis of HIV-1 partial pol sequences from MSM recruited 2005–2017 and sampled within six months of the estimated date of infection. Volunteers were classified as men who have sex with men exclusively (MSME) or with both men and women (MSMW). HIV-1 subtype and transmission clusters were determined by maximum-likelihood phylogenetics. TDR mutations were determined using the Stanford HIV drug resistance database.

Results

Of the 97 volunteers, majority (69%) were MSMW; 74%, 16%, 9% and 1% had HIV-1 subtypes A1, D, C or G, respectively. Overall, 65% formed transmission clusters, with substantial mixing between MSME and MSMW. Majority of volunteer sequences were either not linked to any reference sequence (56%) or clustered exclusively with sequences of Kenyan origin (19%). Eight (8% [95% CI: 4–16]) had at least one TDR mutation against nucleoside (n = 2 [2%]) and/or non-nucleoside (n = 7 [7%]) reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The most prevalent TDR mutation was K103N (n = 5), with sequences forming transmission clusters of two and three taxa each. There were no significant differences in HIV-1 subtype distribution and TDR between MSME and MSMW.

Conclusion

This HIV-1 MSM epidemic was predominantly sub-subtype A1, of Kenyan origin, with many transmission clusters and having intermediate level of TDR. Targeted HIV-1 prevention, early identification and care interventions are warranted to break the transmission cycle amongst MSM from Coastal Kenya.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1371/journal.pone.0206177

Authors


More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-5296-4264
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
Medical Sciences Division
Department:
NDM: Target Discovery Institute
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Public Library of Science
Journal:
PloS One More from this journal
Volume:
13
Issue:
12
Pages:
e0206177
Publication date:
2018-12-18
Acceptance date:
2018-10-08
DOI:
ISSN:
1932-6203
Pmid:
30562356


Language:
English
Pubs id:
pubs:955049
UUID:
uuid:3d44407d-ddec-41b7-9f41-88bb522413fd
Local pid:
pubs:955049
Source identifiers:
955049
Deposit date:
2019-01-21

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