HIV-2 does not protect against HIV-1 infection in a rural community in Guinea-Bissau

• Published in: AIDS (London) Vol. 15; no. 17; pp. 2303 - 2310
• Main Authors: VAN DER LOEFF, Maarten F, AABY, Peter, WHITTLE, Hilton C, ARYIOSHI, Koya, VINCENT, Timothy, AKUM AVEIKA AWASANA, DA COSTA, Carlos, PEMBREY, Lucy, DIAS, Francisco, HARDING, Elizabeth, WEISS, Helen A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 23-11-2001
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Guinea-Bissau - epidemiology; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1 - genetics; HIV-1 - physiology; HIV-2 - genetics; HIV-2 - physiology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Incidence; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Rural Population; Tropical medicine; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Guinea-Bissau; Africa; Human; Immunopathology; Rural environment; HIV-1 virus; Cross protection; Retroviridae; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Epidemiology; Incidence; HIV-2 virus; Infection; Virus; Viral disease; Cross immunity; Human immunodeficiency virus
• DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200111230-00012
• EISSN: 1473-5571
• ISSN: 0269-9370

To examine the putative protective effect of HIV-2 infection against subsequent HIV-1 infection.
Retrospective analysis of data from two cross-sectional surveys in the same community.
Two surveys between 1989 and 1998 in a rural area in northwestern Guinea-Bissau provided data from residents aged 15-59 years. HIV testing was done in the first survey. In the second survey, tests were made for both HIV and syphilis, and data on sociodemographic factors and sexual behaviour, including commercial sex work, were gathered. Qualitative polymerase chain reaction amplification of HIV-1 and HIV-2 viral DNA was performed on serologically dually reactive samples.
Of the 2276 eligible adult villagers initially tested, 60% (1360) provided a second sample. Of 110 HIV-2-infected subjects, 17 became additionally infected with HIV-1 [incidence rate (IR), 26.3/1000 person-years observation]. Of the 1250 HIV-seronegative subjects, 24 became infected with HIV-1 (IR, 2.8/1000 person-years observation). The incidence rate ratio (IRR), comparing the incidence rate in HIV-2-infected people with the rate in HIV-seronegative subjects, was > 1 in all three "risk groups": men, female commercial sex workers, and other women. The overall estimate of the IRR, adjusted for age group and risk group, was 3.24 (confidence interval, 1.5-7.1).
There was no protective effect of HIV-2 in this population. HIV-2 cannot be regarded as a vaccine, but, instead, may be a risk factor for HIV-1 infection.