Author Topic: KU microbiologists identify new sub-genotypes  (Read 1068 times)

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KU microbiologists identify new sub-genotypes
« on: June 11, 2010, 07:31:04 AM »
KU microbiologists identify new sub-genotypes

Karachi:Two new sub-genotypes of HIV-1 besides sub-type A are also present in Pakistan. These sub-types are CRF 10_AE and 02_AG. HIV typing and sub-typing data was not available for HIV strains circulating in Pakistan, thus, only 28 HIV A1 genotypes were reported.

This was said by the Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi while delivering the keynote address at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in America.

“We found the other sub-types by constructing the phylogenetic trees to trace the origins of HIV infection and its major modes of transmission”, she said. Around 18 papers of the research scholars of the University of Karachi were presented in this largest annual gathering of microbiologists in the world.

The meeting was organized to highlight recent advances in microbial cell biology, genetics and physiology, environmental and applied microbiology, microbial ecology, clinical microbiology and the roles of microbes in health and disease.

The main goal was to provide a programme with the breadth and depth that showcased state of the art science. Dr Shahana, while presenting her paper titled ‘Concentrated Epidemics of HIV, HCV, and HBV among Afghan Refugees’, said about the potential high risk behaviour that is the causes of spread of HIV, HCV and HBV in Pakistan largely includes drug use and injecting drugs whereas promiscuity and homosexuality also contribute to it to some extent.

She added that Afghans in Pakistan represented eight per cent of the estimated Afghanistan population. They remain the largest single refugee group in the world for the past 21 years. The number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan in 2007 was estimated 2.46 million. US census found that 42 per cent Afghans in Pakistan lived in camps and 58 per cent in urban areas.

Dr. Shahana warned that high prevalence of HIV, HCV, and HBV among Afghan Refugee population in Pakistan was a cause of concern for public health professional as this is a potential source which may convert Pakistan from a high risk low prevalence country to a high prevalence nation.

She suggested that intervention including awareness, education, behaviourial change, services delivery, harm reduction measures etc are required on war footings to maintain low prevalence in Pakistan. Dr. Syed AliñAga Khan University Hospitalñand two graduate students of University of Karachi Dr M. Rafiq Khanani and Dr. Saeed Khan collaborated in the research.The news