Abstract
BackgroundIn developed countries, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major pathogen in congenitally infected and immunocompromised individuals, where multiple-strain infection appears linked to disease severity. The situation is less documented in developing countries. In Zambia, breast milk is a key route for transmitting HCMV and carries higher viral loads in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected women. We investigated HCMV strain diversity.MethodsHigh-throughput sequence datasets were generated from 28 HCMV-positive breast milk samples donated by 22 mothers (15 HIV-infected and 7 HIV-negative) at 4–16 weeks postpartum, then analyzed by genome assembly and novel motif-based genotyping in 12 hypervariable HCMV genes.ResultsAmong the 20 samples from 14 donors (13 HIV-infected and one HIV-negative) who yielded data meeting quality thresholds, 89 of the possible 109 genotypes were detected, and multiple-strain infections involving up to 5 strains per person were apparent in 9 HIV-infected women. Strain diversity was extensive among individuals but conserved compartmentally and longitudinally within them. Genotypic linkage was maintained within hypervariable UL73/UL74 and RL12/RL13/UL1 loci for virus entry and immunomodulation, but not between genes more distant from each other.ConclusionsBreast milk from HIV-infected women contains multiple HCMV strains of high genotypic complexity and thus constitutes a major source for transmitting viral diversity.
Highlights
In developed countries, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major pathogen in congenitally infected and immunocompromised individuals, where multiple-strain infection appears linked to disease severity
High-throughput sequence datasets were generated from 28 HCMV-positive breast milk samples donated by 22 mothers (15 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and 7 HIV-negative) at 4–16 weeks postpartum, analyzed by genome assembly and novel motifbased genotyping in 12 hypervariable HCMV genes
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major coinfection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected people, in whom, as in other immunocompromised individuals such as transplant recipients, it contributes to morbidity and mortality
Summary
High-throughput sequence datasets were generated from 28 HCMV-positive breast milk samples donated by 22 mothers (15 HIV-infected and 7 HIV-negative) at 4–16 weeks postpartum, analyzed by genome assembly and novel motifbased genotyping in 12 hypervariable HCMV genes. Anonymized breast milk samples were collected with informed consent as a substudy of the Breast Feeding and Postpartum Health study conducted at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, as approved by the ethical committees of the University Teaching Hospital and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Donora HIV Status Breast Sample Weeks Postpartum
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
