Polymerase chain reaction for studies of mother to child transmission of HIV1 in Africa

Abstract

The feasibility and implications of the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in studies of HIV1 mother to child transmission in Africa were investigated. Uncultured leukocyte blood cells (PBL) obtained in Brazzaville (Congo) from newborns and infants (mean age = 27 weeks) of infected mothers were tested. HIV1 DNA sequences were identified in the PBL of six of eight newborns and 14 of 23 babies born to HIV1-positive mothers. In addition two of four babies, who at birth had been seropositive and subsequently were seronegative, were HIV1 DNA positive by PCR. This study demonstrates directly, therefore, a high rate of HIV1 transmission in Africa; it also indicates that PCR should be used for such epidemiological studies.

Cross-subtype detection of HIV-1 using reverse transcription and recombinase polymerase amplification

“…While HIV can effectively be diagnosed via serologic testing in adults and children older than 18 months (World Health Organization, 2010), the presence of transplacentally acquired maternal antibodies that target HIV-1 make serologic testing unreliable in young infants (Ciaranello et al, 2011). Consequently, diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in young infants currently relies on immunoassays that detect the viral capsid antigen p24 via immunoassays (Palomba et al, 1992;Patton et al, 2008), or most commonly, the amplification and detection of HIV-1 DNA using PCR-based assays with a whole blood specimen or a dried blood spot (Panteleeff et al, 1999;Paterlini et al, 1990). However, these assays are not adequate for use at the point of care and require sophisticated laboratory facilities as well as significant specimen and results tracking logistics (Essajee et al, 2015).…”

Evaluation of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by using nonisotopic solution hybridization for detection of polymerase chain reaction-amplified proviral DNA

“…Coamplification of a cellular gene can control for the integrity and amount of DNA input in the reaction (30). In this study, most samples that were discordant between primer pairs with PCR-EIA were negative in a PCR for the B-globin gene.…”

“…A loss of integrity of DNA during sample manipulation could also be the cause of one false-negative result (Fig. 4A, lane H) (30).…”

Laboratory methods for early detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in newborns and infants.

“…The sensitivity and specificity of PCR for HIV DNA have been reported to be approximately 97 and 100%, respectively (52), when HIV-1-infected adults are tested. Significant advances in the application of PCR techniques to the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in infants and children have been made (24,29,30,59,76,84,96,99,100). DeRossi et al compared various virological detection methods in the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in infants, including HIV-1 antigen detection, virus culture, PCR, and in vitro antibody production (29).…”