AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, November 21 +- , 2005
Staff Medical Writers

"Southern Africa is facing an unprecedented public health crisis due to the high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Vaccine development and testing efforts, mainly based on elicitation of HIV-specific T cells, are under way.

"To understand the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles in HIV pathogenesis and to facilitate HLA-based HIV-1 vaccine design, we analyzed the frequencies of HLA class II alleles within the southern African country of Botswana," investigators in the United States report.

"Common HLA class II alleles were identified within the Batswana population through the molecular genotyping of DRB and DQB1 loci. The DRB1 allele groups DRB1*01, DRB1*02/15, DRB1*03, DRB1*11, and DRB1*13 were encountered at frequencies above 20%.

"Within the DQB1 locus, DQB1*06 (47.7%) was the most common allele group, followed by DQB1*03 (39.2%) and DQB1*04 (25.8%). We found that DRB1*01 was more common in HIV-negative than in HIV-positive individuals and that those who expressed DRB1*08 had lower median viral loads," wrote T. Ndungu and colleagues at Harvard University.

"We demonstrate that the frequencies of certain HLA class II alleles in this Batswana population differ substantially from those in North American populations, including African-Americans.

"Common allele groups within Botswana cover large percentages of other African populations and could be targeted in regional vaccine designs," the authors concluded.

Ndungu and colleagues published their study in Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology (Major histocompatibility complex class II (HLA-DRB and -DQB) allele frequencies in Botswana: Association with human immunodeficiency virus type I infection. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2005 Sep;12(9):1020-8.

For additional information, contact M. Essex, Harvard University, School Publ Health, Dept. Immunology & Infectious Disease, 651 Huntington Avenue, FXB-402, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

The publisher of the journal Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology can be contacted at: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA.

Keywords: Boston, Massachusetts, United States, HIV/AIDS, AIDS Vaccine, Viral Pathogenesis, HLA Class II Alleles, Viral Load, Public Health Crisis, HIV-1.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Ndung'u T, Gaseitsiwe S, Sepako E, et al., "Major histocompatibility complex class II (HLA-DRB and -DQB) allele frequencies in Botswana: association with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection" Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2005 Sep;12(9):1020-8.

PubMED Related articles Search

051121
AW051109

Copyright © 2005 - Charles Henderson, Publisher. All rights Reserved. Permission to reproduce granted to AEGIS by Charles W. Henderson. Authorization to reproduce for personal use granted granted by C. W. Henderson, Publisher, provided that the fee of US$4.50 per copy, per page is paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center, 27 Congress Street, Salem, Massachusetts 01970, USA. Published by Charles Henderson, Publisher. Editorial & Publishing Office: P.O. Box 5528, Atlanta, GA 30307-0528 / Telephone: (800) 633-4931; Subscription Office: P.O. Box 830409, Birmingham, AL 35283-0409 / FAX: (205) 995-1588 http://www.newsrx.net

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright © 1980,2005. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.