Distribution of CCR5-Δ32 and HLA-B57:01 alleles in HIV-seropositive and HIV-exposed seronegative Peruvian individuals

• Published in: Human genome variation Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 15
• Main Authors: Echavarria-Correa, Susan M., Obispo-Achallma, Daisy, Espetia Anco, Susan, Guevara, Maria Luisa, Acosta Conchucos, Oscar, Dedios, María Isabel, Mamani Zapana, Enrique, Fujita Alarcón, Ricardo, Yabar, Carlos Augusto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 26.08.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 631/208/721; 692/53/2422; 692/699/255/1901; Abacavir; Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Alleles; Artificial intelligence; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; CC chemokine receptors; Chi-square test; Disease resistance; Disease transmission; DNA sequencing; Epidemiology; Females; Gene Expression; Gene Function; Gene Therapy; Genetic factors; Genetic screening; Genetic testing; Genotype & phenotype; Genotyping; Heterosexuality; Histocompatibility antigen HLA; HIV; Human Genetics; Human immunodeficiency virus; Hypersensitivity; Immunology; Males; Molecular Medicine; Polymerase chain reaction; Population genetics; Public health; Sample size; Sexual behavior; Viruses; Peru
• ISSN: 2054-345X; 2054-345X
• DOI: 10.1038/s41439-025-00321-3

Little information is available about CCR5-Δ32 and HLA-B*57:01 alleles in the Peruvian population, especially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative people with high-risk sexual behavior. Here we describe the prevalence of these alleles in HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (PS) and HIV-seropositive individuals (PVV). For this purpose, 300 individuals were recruited: 150 from each group, and the selected alleles were characterized by endpoint PCR, real-time PCR and DNA sequencing. According to our results, the prevalence of CCR5/CCR5-Δ32 heterozygous was 2.7%, and no homozygous cases were found. The population was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium for the CCR5 locus. Regarding HLA-B*57:01 , one case was identified in the PS group, while no cases were observed in the PVV group. No statistical difference was detected between groups ( P  > 0.05). In conclusion, we showed a low prevalence for CCR5-Δ32 as HLA-B*57:01 in the Peruvian population. As these alleles were found at similar frequencies among both HIV-positive and HIV-negative Peruvian individuals with high-risk sexual behavior, it is possible that other genetic factors play an important role in preventing HIV transmission in this population. The low frequency of the HLA-B*57:01 allele in the Peruvian population suggests that routine genotyping tests for abacavir hypersensitivity should be reevaluated in the public health policies of Peru’s Ministry of Health, based on national epidemiological data. Low prevalence of CCR5-Δ32 and HLA-B*57:01 in Peru Some people are naturally resistant to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This resistance might be due to certain genes, such as CCR5 Δ32 and HLA-B*57:01 . The CCR5 Δ32 gene can prevent the virus from entering cells, while HLA-B*57:01 is linked to slower disease progression and reactions to a drug called abacavir. In Peru, the government requires testing for HLA-B*57:01 before prescribing abacavir, but the prevalence of this gene in Peruvians was unknown. Researchers conducted a study with 300 Peruvian participants, including both HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative individuals. They used genetic tests to check for the presence of CCR5 Δ32 and HLA-B*57:01 and found that both genes are rare in Peruvians, with CCR5 Δ32 present in 2.7% of participants and HLA-B*57:01 in only 0.33%. The study suggests that these genetic traits are uncommon in Peru owing to limited European ancestry. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author.