August 2, 2023

Discovery of gene limiting replication of HIV published in Nature

New study of nearly 4,000 people of African ancestries led to identification of gene inhibiting HIV replication.

IAVI is pleased to announce the release of a new analysis identifying a gene thought to inhibit the replication of HIV. This finding, derived from an analysis of 4,000 people of African descent, marks a distinct and exciting step toward a more robust understanding of HIV progression in people of diverse ancestries.

Gene limiting HIV replication Feature

Study authors derived these findings from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of nearly 4,000 people of African descent living with HIV. GWAS are analyses of entire genomes to identify specific genes influencing clinical outcomes, such as the progression of disease. A portion of the samples used in these analyses were from IAVI’s Protocol C, a long-term epidemiological study of HIV. Protocol C tracked study participants with incident HIV infection from East and Southern Africa from 2006 to 2011, collecting 190,000 samples, 26,000 of which have been shared with researchers globally. All study participants were provided with or referred for routine HIV care.

The study authors specifically assessed the genetic determinants of control of setpoint viral load, a measure of the speed of HIV replication and transmissibility. The study authors identified a new genetic modifier of HIV progression on Chromosome 1, present in some people of African ancestries. The top associated variant, CHD1L, recognized by researchers in this analysis, is a protein involved in DNA repair. Study authors identified a variation of the CHD1L gene linked to the spontaneous control of HIV-1, and further demonstrated that the variation on CHD1L is engaged in white blood cell repair.

This remarkable finding may assist in the development of novel therapeutic drugs. It also demonstrates the importance of advancing genomic research focused on people of African descent, who are deeply under-studied when compared to European populations. With people of African ancestries experiencing the highest burden of HIV/AIDS globally, studies of these populations offer both the greatest promise for genomic discovery that can lead to new therapeutic options and serve to advance global health equity.

The study was co-led by École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne School of Life Sciences, Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory, and Imperial College London. IAVI’s Matt Price, Ph.D., director of epidemiology, is co-author. A full list of co-authoring institutions is below. Generous funding for this study and for IAVI’s Protocol C is made possible by the support of the American People through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of IAVI and do not necessarily reflect the views of PEPFAR, USAID, or the United States Government.

Discovery of gene limiting replication of HIV published in Nature

New study of nearly 4,000 people of African ancestries led to identification of gene inhibiting HIV replication.

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