Identification of a large, fast-expanding HIV-1 subtype B transmission cluster among MSM in Valencia, Spain

We describe and characterize an exceptionally large HIV-1 subtype B transmission cluster occurring in the Comunidad Valenciana (CV, Spain). A total of 1806 HIV-1 protease-reverse transcriptase (PR/RT) sequences from different patients were obtained in the CV between 2004 and 2014. After subtyping and generating a phylogenetic tree with additional HIV-1 subtype B sequences, a very large transmission cluster which included almost exclusively sequences from the CV was detected (n = 143 patients). This cluster was then validated and characterized with further maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses and Bayesian coalescent reconstructions. With these analyses, the CV cluster was delimited to 11…

Emerging Trends in CRF02_AG Variants Transmission Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Spain

Efectividad del tratamiento antirretroviral combinado de gran actividad en eventos recurrentes de sida en una cohorte de seroconvertores al virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana

Resumen Introduccion La efectividad del tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA) en la reduccion del tiempo al primer evento definitorio de sida ha sido demostrada por diversos estudios observacionales, pero el efecto en eventos recurrentes de sida no es tan evidente. Material y metodos Se dispone de 1.938 sujetos seroconvertores al VIH de la cohorte GEMES. Se ha utilizado una extension del modelo de Cox para analizar el tiempo desde la seroconversion a cada evento sida, que tiene en cuenta el tiempo entre sucesivos eventos y que permite que el riesgo de referencia cambie con el numero de paciente con sida previos. El calendario se dividio en tres periodos coincidiendo con la d…

The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in the Comunidad Valenciana (Spain): analysis of transmission clusters

AbstractHIV infections are still a very serious concern for public heath worldwide. We have applied molecular evolution methods to study the HIV-1 epidemics in the Comunidad Valenciana (CV, Spain) from a public health surveillance perspective. For this, we analysed 1804 HIV-1 sequences comprising protease and reverse transcriptase (PR/RT) coding regions, sampled between 2004 and 2014. These sequences were subtyped and subjected to phylogenetic analyses in order to detect transmission clusters. In addition, univariate and multinomial comparisons were performed to detect epidemiological differences between HIV-1 subtypes, and risk groups. The HIV epidemic in the CV is dominated by subtype B i…