Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41845497›Full record

ArticleVirology journal2026

Evolutionary dynamics of HIV-1 recombinants: analysis of contemporary and historical viral populations in East Africa.

Sheila N Balinda, Anne Kapaata, Frank Kato, Angella Nakyanzi, Fortunate Natwijuka, Christian Ndekezi, Drake Byamukama, Denis Omara, Susan Mugaba, Andrew E Obuku and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Virology journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Sheila N BalindaDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda. Sheila.Balinda@mrcuganda.org.
Anne KapaataDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.
Frank KatoDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.
Angella NakyanziUganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
Fortunate NatwijukaDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.
Christian NdekeziDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.
Drake ByamukamaDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.
Denis OmaraDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.
Susan MugabaDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.
Andrew E ObukuDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.
Jesus F Salazar-GonzalezNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, USA.
Pontiano KaleebuDepartment of Viral Pathogens, Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda.

Funding

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative AID-0AA-A-16-000-32
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUnderstanding the genetic evolution of HIV-1 Transmitted/Founder (T/F) virus is crucial for developing effective treatment and prevention strategies due to its rapid mutation and recombination rates.

methodsThis study compared the genetic diversity of 24 contemporary T/F viruses collected between 2016 and 2021 in Uganda and Kenya with 29 historical T/F sequences sampled between 2006 and 2011.

resultsSubtype analysis based on near-full-length (NFL) HIV-1 T/F genomes revealed that 57.1% (12/21) of contemporary viruses were recombinants, predominantly involving Subtype A1, D, and increasing Subtype C, with 33.3% (7/21) being A1D recombinants (A1 > D) and 19% (4/21) classified as complex recombinants involving three or more subtypes. Historical viruses showed a similar overall proportion (69%) but were mainly A1D mosaics (D > A1) with recombination confined primarily to the envelope region. In contrast, contemporary viruses shifted towards more complex recombinant patterns affecting additional genomic regions, including pol and accessory genes. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that contemporary viruses clustered into distinct, well-supported (98% bootstrap) sub-branches, suggesting divergency attributed to an imbalance in their proportions of subtype A1 and D sequences as well as a different content of A1 and D segments in the A1/D mosaic recombinants.

conclusionsThese findings underscore the dynamic and shifting nature of HIV-1 genetic diversity in East Africa, highlighting the need for continuous molecular surveillance and region-specific treatment guidelines.

Indexed as

Genetic VariationHIV-1Cross-Sectional StudiesEvolution, MolecularGenome, ViralHIV InfectionsHumansKenyaPhylogenyReassortant VirusesUgandaAmino Acid SignatureHIV-1RecombinantSubtype A1T/F

Identifiers

PMID41845497
PMCPMC13113484

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.