Deep Sequencing Reveals Compartmentalized HIV-1 in the Semen of Men with and without Sexually Transmitted Infection-Associated Urethritis.

ABSTRACT: Concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STI) can increase the probability of HIV-1 transmission primarily by increasing the viral load present in semen. In this study, we explored the relationship of HIV-1 in blood and seminal plasma in the presence and absence of urethritis and after treatment of the concurrent STI. Primer ID deep sequencing of the V1/V3 region of the HIV-1 env gene was done for paired blood and semen samples from antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive men living in Malawi with (n = 19) and without (n = 5) STI-associated urethritis; for a subset of samples, full-length env genes were generated for sequence analysis and to test entry phenotype. Cytokine concentrations in the blood and semen were also measured, and a reduction in the levels of pr

SUBMITTER: Council OD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7307086 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature