Background Reducing the burden of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) requires large-scale deployment of intervention programmes, which can be informed by the dynamic pattern of HCV spread. In Spain, ongoing transmission of HCV is mostly fuelled by people who inject drugs (PWID) infected with subtype 1a (HCV1a). Aim Our aim was to map how infections spread within and between populations, which could help formulate more effective intervention programmes to halt the HCV1a epidemic in Spain. Methods Epidemiological links between HCV1a viruses from a convenience sample of 283 patients in Spain, mostly PWID, collected between 2014 and 2016, and 1,317, 1,291 and 1,009 samples collected abroad between 1989 and 2016 were reconstructed using sequences covering the NS3, NS5A and NS5B genes. To efficiently do so, fast maximum likelihood-based tree estimation was coupled to a flexible Bayesian discrete phylogeographic inference method. Results The transmission network structure of the Spanish HCV1a epidemic was shaped by continuous seeding of HCV1a into Spain, almost exclusively from North America and European countries. The latter became increasingly relevant and have dominated in recent times. Export from Spain to other countries in Europe was also strongly supported, although Spain was a net sink for European HCV1a lineages. Spatial reconstructions showed that the epidemic in Spain is diffuse, without large, dominant within-country networks. Conclusion To boost the effectiveness of local intervention efforts, concerted supra-national strategies to control HCV1a transmission are needed, with a strong focus on the most important drivers of ongoing transmission, i.e. PWID and other high-risk populations.

Molecular Epidemiology

10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.9.1800227

Cite

Citations (16)

Orthohepevirus C (Rocahpevirus Ratti): A New Human Threat

Viral Hepatitis Journal (2023)

Mustafa Altındiş António Rivero‐Juarez

10.4274/vhd.galenos.2023.2023-3-2

Cite

Citations (0)

Lack of associations of microRNAs with severe NAFLD in people living with HIV: discovery case-control study

Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023)

Mario Frías Diana Corona‐Mata José María Morate Moyano Ángela Camacho-Espejo Pedro López‐López

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH) and the expression of some microRNAs could be useful as biomarkers for the diagnosis of NAFLD. The aim of this study was to identify patterns of differential expression of microRNAs in PLWH and assess their diagnostic value for NALFD.A discovery case-control study with PLWH was carried out. The expression of miRNAs was determined using HTG EdgeSeq technology. Cases were defined as patients with severe NAFLD and controls as patients without NAFLD, characterized using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). Cases and controls were matched 1:1 for age, sex, BMI, CD4+ lymphocyte count, active HCV infection, and ART regimen.Serum 2,083 simultaneous microRNA transcripts were analyzed using HTG technology and compared between cases and controls. Forty-five patients, 23 cases, and 22 controls were included in the study. In the analysis of the expression pattern of the 2,083 microRNAs, no differential expression patterns were found between both groups of patients included in the study.Analysis of the microRNA transcriptome profile of nonobese PLWH with severe NAFLD did not appear to differ from that of patients without NAFLD. Thus, microRNA might not serve as a proper biomarker for predicting severe NALFD in this population.

10.3389/fendo.2023.1230046

Cite

Citations (1)

Early emergence of opportunistic infections after starting direct‐acting antiviral drugs in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients

Journal of Viral Hepatitis (2018)

Juan Macı́as Francisco Téllez António Rivero‐Juarez Rosario Palacios Luís Morano

Summary Varicella‐zoster virus and hepatitis B virus reactivations have been reported after starting interferon‐free direct‐acting antiviral agent ( DAA ) combinations. HIV / HCV ‐coinfected patients could be a high‐risk group for the reactivation of latent infections. Because of these, we report the occurrence of severe infections after starting DAA regimens in HIV / HCV ‐coinfected patients. Individuals included in the HEPAVIR ‐ DAA ( NCT 02057003) cohort were selected if they had received all‐oral DAA combinations. A retrospective review of clinical events registered between the start of DAA s and 12 months after SVR 12 was carried out. Overall, 38 (4.5%) of 848 patients presented infections. The incidence (95% confidence interval) of infections was 4.6 (3.3‐6.3) cases per 100 person‐years. The median (Q1‐Q3) time to the infection since baseline was 23 (7.3‐33) weeks. Five (13%) of the patients with infections died; four of them had cirrhosis. The frequency of previous AIDS was 21 (54%) for patients with infections and 324 (40%) for those without infections ( P = 0.084). The median (Q1‐Q3) nadir CD 4 cell count of individuals with and without infections was 75 (53‐178) and 144 (67‐255) cells/μL, respectively ( P = 0.047). Immunodepression‐associated infections were observed in 9 (1.1%) patients. All of them had suppressed HIV replication with antiretroviral therapy. In conclusion, severe infections are relatively common among HIV / HCV ‐coinfected patients receiving all‐oral DAA combinations. Some unusual reactivations of latent infections in patients with suppressed HIV replication seem to be temporally linked with DAA use.

10.1111/jvh.13003

Cite

Citations (4)

KIR2DS2 as predictor of thrombocytopenia secondary to pegylated interferon-alpha therapy

The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2016)

António Rivero‐Juarez Rafael González Manzanares Mario Frías B Manzanares-Martín Diego Rodríguez-Cano

Pegylated interferon

Hepatitis C

10.1038/tpj.2016.19

Cite

Citations (5)

Genetic associations of the vitamin D and antiviral pathways with natural resistance to HIV-1 infection are influenced by interpopulation variability

Infection Genetics and Evolution (2019)

Wbeimar Aguilar-Jiménez Wildeman Zapata António Rivero‐Juarez Juan A. Pineda Marina Laplana

10.1016/j.meegid.2019.05.014

Cite

Citations (3)