HIV Selection Bias

A study of serodiscordant heterosexual couples suggests that fitter HIV strains are more likely to be transmitted.

Although individuals with chronic HIV infection harbor a swarm of viral quasispecies, heterosexual transmission appears to occur predominantly through acquisition of a single genetic variant. It has not been clear whether such founder viruses are random genetic variants or there is a selection bias for fitter ones. To address this question, researchers conducted a study involving participants in the Zambia Emory HIV Research Project discordant couples cohort who had intracouple HIV transmission after enrollment.

Plasma samples were obtained from 137 chronically infected donors and their newly infected partners shortly after the estimated transmission date. Comparison of viral sequences between the donors and their partners revealed a clear b…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

HIV Selection Bias

Topics

Reviewing Author