A highly virulent variant of HIV-1 circulating in the Netherlands
Scientists working on the BEEHIVE project, a study of HIV genomics and virulence across Europe and Uganda, published their findings in the journal Science on 3 February. According to UNAIDS, 38 million people around the world are currently living with the most prominent strain of the virus, HIV-1, and it has caused, to date, around 33 million deaths. HIV-2 is the other most prominent type of HIV, and is most commonly seen in West Africa.
The newly discovered mutation, a subtype of HIV-1, has been named “virulent subtype B” or the “VB variant” ... Measuring the viral load, or level of virus in the blood, of those with the VB variant, scientists found that it was between 3.5 and 5.5 times higher than those with other variants of HIV. The new strain also damaged the immune system twice as fast, “placing them at risk of developing AIDS much more rapidly”, and those with the VB variant were at a higher risk of transmitting the virus to others.
Thankfully, scientists found that after starting treatment, “individuals with the VB variant had similar immune system recovery and survival to individuals with other HIV variants”. But they emphasised the need to get tested often for early diagnosis, because of the rapid progression of the variant.
According to the Terrence Higgins Trust, one in 20 people with HIV are unaware they have it, which increases the risk of damage to the immune system, and of passing it on to sexual partners.
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/02/05/hiv-strain-variant-mutation-netherlands-testing/
https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.abk1688?et_rid=325825488&utm_campaign=SCIeToc&af=R&et_cid=4098831&utm_medium=email&utm_content=alert&utm_source=sfmc