Deep Sequencing Reveals Compartmentalized HIV-1 in the Semen of Men with and without STI-associated Urethritis

Zhou, Shuntai; McCann, Chase D.; Hoffman, Irving; Tegha, Gerald; Kamwendo, Deborah; Matoga, Mitch; Pond, Sergei L. Kosakovsky; Cohen, Myron S.; Swanstrom, Ronald

doi:10.1101/2020.01.28.924225

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We have recently reexamined the relationship between HIV and STIs using single genome amplification followed by Sanger sequencing , as well as Primer ID and deep sequencing . Co‐infection with another STI did not appear to strongly influence the establishment of compartmentalized populations in this cohort, but individuals with urethritis tended to have more dynamic viral populations in the semen, than did men without urethritis .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the era of antiretroviral treatment and prevention: the biologic basis for epidemiologic synergy

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction HIV is a unique sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is greatly affected by other concomitant “classical” bacterial and viral STIs that cause genital ulcers and/or mucosal inflammation. STIs also serve as a marker for risky sexual behaviours. STIs increase infectiousness of people living with HIV by increasing the viral concentration in the genital tract, and by increasing the potential for HIV acquisition in people at risk for HIV. In addition, some STIs can increase blood HIV concentration and promote progression of disease. This review is designed to investigate the complex relationship between HIV and classical STIs. Discussion Treatment of STIs with appropriate antibiotics reduces HIV in blood, semen and female genital secretions. However, community‐based trials could not reliably reduce the spread of HIV by mass treatment of STIs. Introduction of antiretroviral agents for the treatment and prevention of HIV has led to renewed interest in the complex relationship between STIs and HIV. Antiretroviral treatment (ART) reduces the infectiousness of HIV and virtually eliminates the transmission of HIV in spite of concomitant or acquired STIs. However, while ART interrupts HIV transmission, it does not stop intermittent shedding of HIV in genital secretions. Such shedding of HIV is increased by STIs, although the viral copies are not likely replication competent or infectious. Pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of HIV with the combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) prevents HIV acquisition in spite of concomitant STIs. Conclusions STIs remain pandemic, and the availability of ART may have led to an increase in STIs, as fear of HIV has diminished. Classical STIs present a huge worldwide health burden that cannot be separated from HIV, and they deserve far more attention than they currently receive.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the era of antiretroviral treatment and prevention: the biologic basis for epidemiologic synergy

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…HIV can be detected in multiple anatomic sites in the genital tract [33,34]. The detection of different HIV variants in blood and semen suggest compartmentalization [2,4,35,36]. Viruses in the male genital tract may result from HIV replication or cellular clonal expansion [34,36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Urethritis on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Semen: Implications for HIV Prevention and Cure

Chen

Matoga

Massa

et al. 2020

Clinical Infectious Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Prior to the widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), Men living with HIV with urethritis had increased concentration of HIV in semen. This study aims to better evaluate HIV shedding in men with urethritis receiving ART, and implications for the cure of HIV. Methods Men living with HIV with urethritis taking ART ≥12 weeks were enrolled at a sexually transmitted infections clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. Study follow-up included visits 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks post urethritis diagnosis and treatment. Matched blood and semen samples were collected at all visits, and all additional episodes of urethritis were followed with extra visits 1, 2, and 4 weeks after treatment. Results 111 men enrolled in the study between January 2017 – March 2019, and 77 (69%) were suppressed in the blood (<400 copies/mL). Among the 77 men, 87 episodes of urethritis were evaluated during follow-up. Of the 87 episodes, 15 episodes (17%) had instances of seminal viral shedding ≥400 copies/mL despite viral suppression in the blood. At follow-up of non-urethritis episodes, ≤6% of men at each visit had a viral load ≥400 copies/mL in the semen while maintaining viral suppression in the blood. Conclusions An HIV cure requires the elimination of HIV from every body compartment, but available ART does not currently accomplish this. Our study highlights the male genital tract as a local source of HIV that can be reversibly activated. A better understanding of this phenomenon is important to advance the HIV cure field.

show abstract

Deep Sequencing Reveals Compartmentalized HIV-1 in the Semen of Men with and without STI-associated Urethritis

Cited by 2 publications

References 53 publications

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the era of antiretroviral treatment and prevention: the biologic basis for epidemiologic synergy

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the era of antiretroviral treatment and prevention: the biologic basis for epidemiologic synergy

Effects of Urethritis on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Semen: Implications for HIV Prevention and Cure

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About