Molecular testing of multiple HIV-1 transmissions in a criminal case

• Published in: AIDS (London) Vol. 19; no. 15; pp. 1649 - 1658
• Main Authors: LEMEY, Philippe, VAN DOOREN, Sonia, VAN LAETHEM, Kristel, SCHROOTEN, Yoeri, DERDELINCKX, Inge, GOUBAU, Patrick, BRUN-VEZINET, Francoise, VAIRA, Dolores, VANDAMME, Anne-Mieke
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 14.10.2005
• Subjects: AIDS/HIV; Bayes Theorem; Biological and medical sciences; DNA, Viral - genetics; epidemiological linkage; Female; forensic investigation; Forensic Medicine - methods; Genes, env - genetics; Genes, pol - genetics; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV Infections - virology; HIV transmission; HIV-1 - classification; HIV-1 - genetics; Human health sciences; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunologie & maladie infectieuse; Immunology & infectious disease; Immunopathology; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; phylogenetic analysis; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Rape; Sciences de la santé humaine; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Immunopathology; Multiple; Phylogenetic tree; Transmission; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Infection; phylogenetic analysis; epidemiological linkage; Viral disease; Genetic linkage; Molecular epidemiology; forensic investigation; Genetics; HIV transmission
• ISSN: 0269-9370; 1473-5571; 1473-5571
• DOI: 10.1097/01.aids.0000187904.02261.1a

To test the a priori hypothesis of HIV-1 transmission from one suspect to six recipients in a criminal case. Partial pol and/or env sequences were obtained for at least two samples of the suspect and the victims. Appropriate local controls were sampled based on epidemiological and subtype criteria. Phylogenetic testing was performed using different reconstruction methods. Phylogenetic analyses consistently inferred a monophyletic cluster for the suspect and victim samples in both genome regions. This was highly supported by parametric and non-parametric bootstrapping techniques. Moreover, the controls most closely related to the suspect-victim cluster had a similar geographical origin to the suspect. Taking into account the limitations on the conclusions that can be drawn from molecular investigations we could infer that our molecular data is consistent with a scenario of multiple HIV transmission between suspect and victims.