Despite significant progress against HIV/AIDS, the nation’s capital is still battling an HIV epidemic with rates that are five times higher than the national average. A recent study by Milken Institute School of Public Health researchers at George Washington University uses powerful next-generation sequencing technology to learn more about how the virus is spreading and developing drug resistance in the District of Columbia.
Researchers with GW’s Computational Biology Institute (CBI) received blood samples from 68 people living with HIV in the District through collaborations with the DC Cohort. They sequenced the genetic material taken from the virus and found that HIV in D.C. is highly diverse—meaning there are many different strains in the local population. The authors theorize this diversity stems from D.C.’s position as an international hub with a lot of temporary residents and visitors.
The researchers also found that about half of the study participants had at least one drug-resistant HIV strain. This information could be used to help provide targeted, more effective drugs to people with resistant HIV.
“Our findings of a genetically diverse and complex HIV epidemic in D.C. are scientifically important,” said Keylie M. Gibson, who recently defended her dissertation at GW and lead author of the study. “At the same time, this study allowed us to give back to the District and the community through public health outreach and collaborations with organizations such as the DC Cohort.”