Demographic but not geographic insularity in HIV transmission among young black MSM

Abstract

Phylogenetic clusters involving HIV-infected young black MSM were homogeneous with respect to demographic and risk characteristics, suggesting insularity of this population with respect to HIV transmission, but were geographically heterogeneous. Reducing HIV transmission among young black MSM in Mississippi may require prevention strategies that are tailored to young black MSM and those in their sexual networks, and prevention interventions should be delivered in a manner to reach young black MSM throughout the state. Phylogenetic analysis can be a tool for local jurisdictions to understand the transmission dynamics in their areas.

The International Dimension of the U.S. HIV Transmission Network and Onward Transmission of HIV Recently Imported into the United States

“…15,18,19 Here, we found that by including sequences representing the global diversity of HIV, we were able to infer indirect connections between persons within the United States through one or more international sequences. This finding demonstrates the added benefit of including the global diversity of HIV in transmission network analyses, even if the aim of an analysis is local in scope (as suggested by Wertheim et al…”

“…20 In a public health setting, demographics and transmission category may assist in identifying groups of highest priority for targeted intervention. 18,30,31 Given the ability of HIV to spread across large geographic distances and establish onward transmission clusters, these surveillance efforts should be broad in scope.…”

“…Transmission networks inferred from genetic sequences allow the study of viral dynamics on a local or national level. [14][15][16][17][18][19] Moreover, these networks provide the means to improve the effect of targeted treatment intervention. 20 Recent work by Wertheim et al 2 has demonstrated how the global diversity of HIV can be efficiently queried for transmission links by comparing genetic distances between isolates.…”

Role Flexing: How Community, Religion, and Family Shape the Experiences of Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…Based on findings from the rapid assessment, CDC and MSDH incorporated an in-depth qualitative interview component into their broader investigation, which also included a casecontrol study, 20,21 a phylogenetic analysis, 22 and a network analysis. 23 In the present study, we analyzed data from the qualitative interviews with HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected young black MSM to explore the role of community, religious, and familial influence on the experiences of young black MSM.…”

Molecular analysis allows inference into HIV transmission among young men who have sex with men in the United States

“…Previous research examining the role of age and racial dynamics in the sexual networks of young MSM relied on small sample sizes [2,3,4,5,7,8] or survey data [4,8]. Whereas survey data can provide information about social and sexual networks, identifying genetically highly similar HIV sequences can allow us to infer HIV transmission networks and describe transmission between the persons within these networks [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. In an effort to better understand the role that age and race/ethnicity of sexual partners may play in HIV acquisition for young MSM, we used HIV sequence data reported to U.S. National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) to investigate HIV transmission dynamics for young MSM.…”