Why does age at HIV infection correlate with set point viral load? An evolutionary hypothesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Set-point viral load (SPVL) correlates with the age at which people acquire HIV. Although immunosenescence may seem like a parsimonious explanation for this, it does not easily explain the observation that the relationship between age and SPVL attenuates when accounting for source partner SPVL. Here we propose an alternative explanation that encompasses this latter finding: that decreasing risk of acquisition with older age generates a selection bottleneck that selects for more virulent strains with age.

Methods

We adapted a previously published model of HIV transmission and evolution (EvoNetHIV), parameterized here for men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted a series of simulation experiments that vary seven behavioral or clinical parameters that affect exp

SUBMITTER: Goodreau SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9807138 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature