Intermingling between populations may contribute to HIV spread
Date:
March 8, 2022
Source:
eLife
Summary:
Sexual partnerships between individuals from different communities
may help explain why some community-based HIV prevention efforts
were moderately effective, shows a new study.
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Sexual partnerships between individuals from different communities
may help explain why some community-based HIV prevention efforts were moderately effective, shows a study published ineLife.
==========================================================================
The findings may help explain the results of some community-based
prevention studies and help scientists develop better ways to track and
prevent the spread of HIV.
Early identification and treatment of HIV can help prevent transmission
of the virus. However, large studies of community-based universal HIV
testing and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa have not been as effective
as mathematical models predicted at curbing new infections.
"To stem the spread of new HIV infections, we need to better understand patterns of HIV transmission in the region," says first author Lerato
Magosi, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Communicable
Disease Dynamics at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston,
US.
Magosi and colleagues set out to learn more about HIV transmission
patterns in Botswana, Africa. The team genetically sequenced HIV samples collected from 5,114 individuals in 30 communities who participated in
an HIV prevention trial. This trial, called the Botswana Combination
Prevention Project or Ya Tsie trial, compared HIV transmission in
communities that were randomised to receive universal HIV testing
and linkage to treatment with communities that did not receive such
an intervention.
By identifying samples of HIV that were closely related genetically,
the team was able to track how the virus spread within and between
these communities.
They found that most HIV transmission occurred between individuals who
were about the same age and among individuals living in the same community
or neighbouring communities, rather than distant communities. Viral
spread from communities that did not receive the universal HIV testing
and treatment intervention into communities that received the intervention
was more likely to occur than vice versa.
"Our results suggest that community-based HIV testing and treatment
initiatives are powerful tools to reduce HIV transmission, but will need
to be supported by targeted studies aimed at closing age and sex gaps
in uptake of testing and treatment," Magosi explains.
The authors suggest that genetic sequencing may be a valuable tool to help identify geographic HIV transmission patterns. They also recommend widely distributing HIV testing and treatment interventions in communities that
are likely to intermingle. "Population mobility patterns are central to understanding HIV transmission dynamics and should be considered when
designing and testing HIV control strategies," concludes senior author
Marc Lipsitch, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics.
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by eLife. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lerato E Magosi, Yinfeng Zhang, Tanya Golubchik, Victor DeGruttola,
Eric
Tchetgen Tchetgen, Vladimir Novitsky, Janet Moore, Pam Bachanas,
Tebogo Segolodi, Refeletswe Lebelonyane, Molly Pretorius Holme,
Sikhulile Moyo, Joseph Makhema, Shahin Lockman, Christophe Fraser,
Myron Max Essex, Marc Lipsitch. Deep-sequence phylogenetics to
quantify patterns of HIV transmission in the context of a universal
testing and treatment trial - BCPP/Ya Tsie trial. eLife, 2022;
11 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.72657 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220308115640.htm
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