Impact of genetic variants in chemokine receptors on the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV

摘要

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs are being scaled-up in resource-limited areas of the world; however, what drives mother-to-child transmission, and why some women with low viral loads transmit HIV to their infants, whilst other women with high viral loads do not transmit, remain largely unanswered questions. Singh etal. examined the impact of genetic variants in chemokine and chemokine receptors [1], including the co-receptor CCR5 variants, on the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and the effect that short-course antiretroviral drugs, given to women as part of PMTCT programs, had on host genetics.