Objective: We evaluated the characteristics of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters (MTCs) in 1890 newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes between 2005 and 2017 in Italy. Methods: Phylogenetic analyses were performed on pol sequences to characterise subtypes/circulating recombinant forms and identify MTCs. MTCs were divided into small (SMTCs, 2-3 sequences), medium (MMTCs, 4-9 sequences) and large (LMTCs, ≥10 sequences). Factors associated with MTCs were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: 145 MTCs were identified and involved 666 individuals (35.2%); 319 of them (16.9%) were included in 13 LMTCs, 111 (5.9%) in 20 MMTCs and 236 (12.5%) in 112 SMTCs. Compared with individuals out of MTCs, individuals involved in MTCs were prevalently Italian (72.7% vs 30.9%, p<0.001), male (82.9% vs 62.3%, p<0.001) and men who have sex with men (MSM) (43.5% vs 14.5%, p<0.001). Individuals in MTCs were also younger (median (IQR) years: 41 (35-49) vs 43 (36-51), p<0.001) and had higher CD4 cell count in comparison with individuals out of MTCs (median (IQR) cells/mm 3 : 10 9 /L 0.4 (0.265-0.587) vs 0.246 (0.082-0.417), p<0.001). The viral load remained stable between the two groups (median (IQR) log 10 copies/mL: 4.8 (4.2-5.5) vs 5.0 (4.3-5.5), p=0.87). Logistic regression confirmed that certain factors such as being MSM, of Italian origin, younger age and higher CD4 cell count were significantly associated with MTCs. Conclusions: Our findings show that HIV-1 newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes are involved in several MTCs in Italy. These MTCs include mainly Italians and MSM and highlight the complex phenomenon characterising the HIV-1 spread. This is important especially in view of monitoring the HIV epidemic and guiding the public health response.

Characterisation of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters among newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes in Italy / L. Fabeni, C. Alteri, G. Berno, R. Scutari, N. Orchi, G. De Carli, A. Bertoli, L. Carioti, C. Gori, F. Forbici, R. Salpini, A. Vergori, R. Gagliardini, S. Cicalini, A. Mondi, C. Pinnetti, L. Mazzuti, O. Turriziani, M. Colafigli, V. Borghi, F. Montella, A. Pennica, M. Lichtner, E. Girardi, M. Andreoni, C. Mussini, A. Antinori, F. Ceccherini-Silberstein, C.F. Perno, M.M. Santoro. - In: SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS. - ISSN 1368-4973. - (2019). [Epub ahead of print]

Characterisation of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters among newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes in Italy

C. Alteri;C.F. Perno;
2019

Abstract

Objective: We evaluated the characteristics of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters (MTCs) in 1890 newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes between 2005 and 2017 in Italy. Methods: Phylogenetic analyses were performed on pol sequences to characterise subtypes/circulating recombinant forms and identify MTCs. MTCs were divided into small (SMTCs, 2-3 sequences), medium (MMTCs, 4-9 sequences) and large (LMTCs, ≥10 sequences). Factors associated with MTCs were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: 145 MTCs were identified and involved 666 individuals (35.2%); 319 of them (16.9%) were included in 13 LMTCs, 111 (5.9%) in 20 MMTCs and 236 (12.5%) in 112 SMTCs. Compared with individuals out of MTCs, individuals involved in MTCs were prevalently Italian (72.7% vs 30.9%, p<0.001), male (82.9% vs 62.3%, p<0.001) and men who have sex with men (MSM) (43.5% vs 14.5%, p<0.001). Individuals in MTCs were also younger (median (IQR) years: 41 (35-49) vs 43 (36-51), p<0.001) and had higher CD4 cell count in comparison with individuals out of MTCs (median (IQR) cells/mm 3 : 10 9 /L 0.4 (0.265-0.587) vs 0.246 (0.082-0.417), p<0.001). The viral load remained stable between the two groups (median (IQR) log 10 copies/mL: 4.8 (4.2-5.5) vs 5.0 (4.3-5.5), p=0.87). Logistic regression confirmed that certain factors such as being MSM, of Italian origin, younger age and higher CD4 cell count were significantly associated with MTCs. Conclusions: Our findings show that HIV-1 newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes are involved in several MTCs in Italy. These MTCs include mainly Italians and MSM and highlight the complex phenomenon characterising the HIV-1 spread. This is important especially in view of monitoring the HIV epidemic and guiding the public health response.
No
English
HIV; molecular epidemiology; transmission dynamics; transmission networks; virology HIV
Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Pubblicazione scientifica
2019
BMJ Publishing Group
Epub ahead of print
Periodico con rilevanza internazionale
scopus
pubmed
crossref
Aderisco
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Characterisation of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters among newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes in Italy / L. Fabeni, C. Alteri, G. Berno, R. Scutari, N. Orchi, G. De Carli, A. Bertoli, L. Carioti, C. Gori, F. Forbici, R. Salpini, A. Vergori, R. Gagliardini, S. Cicalini, A. Mondi, C. Pinnetti, L. Mazzuti, O. Turriziani, M. Colafigli, V. Borghi, F. Montella, A. Pennica, M. Lichtner, E. Girardi, M. Andreoni, C. Mussini, A. Antinori, F. Ceccherini-Silberstein, C.F. Perno, M.M. Santoro. - In: SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS. - ISSN 1368-4973. - (2019). [Epub ahead of print]
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L. Fabeni, C. Alteri, G. Berno, R. Scutari, N. Orchi, G. De Carli, A. Bertoli, L. Carioti, C. Gori, F. Forbici, R. Salpini, A. Vergori, R. Gagliardini...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/652745
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