Unit:
Κατεύθυνση ΒιοστατιστικήLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Vorria Aikaterini
Supervisors info:
Δημήτριος Παρασκευής, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Γκίκας Μαγιορκίνης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Βάνα Σύψα, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Εφαρμογή μεθόδων μοριακής επιδημιολογίας στην πρόληψη του HIV
Translated title:
Application of molecular epidemiology methods in HIV prevention
Summary:
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the etiologic factor of the Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The virus is characterized from high genetic diversity as
a consequence of the high rate of genetic changes that are integrated in his genetic material.
This rate is estimated to be 1 million times faster than that of humans, letting this way, genetic
fingerprints in relatively short time. HIV is globally classified into four groups, of which group
M is responsible for AIDS pandemic and is phylogenetically classified into nine subtypes, subsubtypes
and recombinant forms.
HIV/AIDS epidemic still remains a hot issue in the field of both global and local public
health. The risk of transmission differs among persons of different transmission groups and
thus, the knowledge of transmission route of each patient leads to deeper understanding of
viral epidemiology and better preventing measures
Because of these characteristics of the virus, we can, by the use of phylogenetic
analysis methods, investigate the potential epidemiological relation of humans with HIV-1
infection.
Due to these characteristics of the virus, it is possible to investigate the possible
epidemiological relationship between people with HIV infection by methods of phylogenetic
analysis. Guided by population genetics and epidemiological principles, scientists are using
viral phylogenetics to improve understanding of HIV diversity within individuals and
populations, creating an unprecedented knowledge of viral dynamics to improve HIV
prevention strategies and treat HIV-infected individuals. Molecular epidemiological
evaluation of HIV transmission networks can clarify the behavioural elements of transmission
that can be targeted for intervention. HIV molecular epidemiology tools, as applied to
phylogenetic, phylodynamic and phylogeographical analyses, have been shown to be
powerful tools in public health planning in many studies.
The purpose of my current work is to analyze phylogenetic methods as a tool for
creating HIV intervention and prevention strategies.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
HIV, Phylogenetics, Networks, Prevention, Public health
Number of references:
168
