{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ScholarlyArticle","headline":"Epidemiological dynamics and molecular characteristics of HIV-1 among transgender women in the Central-West region of Brazil.","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Bruno Vinícius Diniz E Silva"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Sylvia Lopes Maia Teixeira"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Paulie Marcelly Ribeiro Dos Santos"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Larissa Silva Magalhães"},{"@type":"Person","name":"José Henrique Pilotto"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Ingebourg Georg"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Carlos Silva de Jesus"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Rayana Katylin Mendes Da Silva"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Karlla Antonieta Amorim Caetano"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Robert Lewis Cook"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Regina Maria Bringel Martins"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Sheila Araujo Teles"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Monick Lindenmeyer Guimarães"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Megmar Aparecida Dos Santos Carneiro"}],"datePublished":"2025","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Frontiers in public health"},"identifier":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1679535","description":"\n Introduction\n The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic disproportionately affects key populations, including transgender women (TGW). Understanding the epidemiological and molecular characteristics on HIV-1 infection among TGW in Brazil, a continental country, is important to support decisions about public health policies. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the HIV prevalence and associated risk factors, recency of infection, genetic diversity of HIV-1, transmission clusters, and drug resistance mutations among TGW in Goiás, a state in the Central-West region of Brazil.\n \n \n Methods\n A total of 440 participants from three cities in Goiás (Goiânia, Itumbiara, and Jataí) were recruited using Respondent-Driven Sampling. Serum samples were screened for anti-HIV antibodies using rapid tests and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Recent acquisitions were identified from plasma samples using the Limiting Antigen Avidity assay. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from blood samples, and the partial polymerase gene (protease/reverse transcriptase region) was amplified using a nested polymerase chain reaction. Sequences were subtyped, analyzed for potential transmission networks, and assessed for drug resistance using the Stanford HIVdb program.\n \n \n Results\n \n Most participants were young, single, self-identified as Black or mixed-race, and had a secondary education level or less. Many reported early sexual debut and multiple high-risk behaviors for sexually transmitted infections. The overall prevalence was 27.3%, with 43.2% classified as recent acquisitions and 56.8% as long-standing. Being over 25 years of age and engaging in chemsex were significantly associated with infection (\n p\n  < 0.05). Regarding genetic diversity, subtype B was the most prevalent, followed by F1 and C. Ten transmission clusters were identified; each composed of at least two sequences. High prevalence of drug resistance mutations (39.1%) was observed among TGW.\n \n \n \n Conclusion\n These findings underscore the high burden of HIV-1 among TGW in the Central-West region of Brazil and highlight the importance of serological and molecular surveillance in guiding targeted interventions aimed at preventing HIV acquisition and formulating well-informed public health policies for this key population.\n ","url":"https://innscience.ca/en/community/literature/7239cc14-0de8-4fbc-8e34-5c6827857202"}