HIV-1 Subtype B Dominance in the Caribbean
Author Information
Author(s): Nadai Yuka, Eyzaguirre Lindsay M., Sill Anne, Cleghorn Farley, Nolte Claudine, Charurat Manhattan, Collado-Chastel Santiago, Jack Noreen, Bartholomew Courtenay, Pape Jean W., Figueroa Peter, Blattner William A., Carr Jean K.
Primary Institution: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland
Hypothesis
What is the genetic diversity of HIV-1 subtypes in the Caribbean?
Conclusion
The study confirms that subtype B is the predominant HIV-1 subtype in the Caribbean, with distinct genetic characteristics compared to other regions.
Supporting Evidence
- Subtype B is the most common HIV-1 subtype in the Caribbean.
- The study analyzed 67 partial pol sequences and found 66 were subtype B.
- Phylogenetic analysis showed Caribbean subtype B strains cluster together.
Takeaway
This study looked at blood samples from people in the Caribbean to see what kind of HIV they had, and found that most had a specific type called subtype B.
Methodology
Blood samples were collected from HIV-positive patients in four Caribbean countries, and nearly full genomes were sequenced and analyzed.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the selection of samples based on ease of amplification.
Limitations
The study's sample collection was not systematic, which may not represent the full diversity of strains in the region.
Participant Demographics
Patients were newly diagnosed as HIV-positive from Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0004
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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