Whole-genome sequencing of for surveillance purposes shows (inter)national relatedness and multidrug resistance in isolates from men who have sex with men.

In the Netherlands, more than half of domestic shigellosis cases are among men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly in the Amsterdam region. However, there is limited insight into which strains circulate in the Netherlands. Our objective was to assess the added value of whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based surveillance for .

Bile-salt stimulated lipase polymorphisms do not associate with HCV susceptibility.

Bile-salt stimulate lipase (BSSL) is a glycoprotein found in human milk and blood that can potently bind DC-SIGN. The BSSL gene is highly polymorphic with a variant number of O-linked glycosylated 11 amino acid repeats at the C-terminus of the protein, encoded in exon 11 of the gene. It has been shown that certain BSSL genotypes associate with decreased HIV-1 transmission in vitro and decreased HIV-1 disease progression.

SNP rs688 within the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene associates with HCV susceptibility.

Background & Aims: Despite high-risk behaviour, 10%-20% of HCV multiple exposed individuals remain uninfected (MEU), whilst the remainder become infected (MEI). We hypothesize that host factors play a role in HCV susceptibility. We aimed to identify polymorphisms in host genes that encode for proteins involved in viral entry: CD81, Scavenger receptor 1 (SR-1), Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), Claudin-1 (CLDN1), Occludin (OCLN) and Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1).

DC-SIGN Polymorphisms Associate with Risk of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Men who Have Sex with Men but not Among Injecting Drug Users.

We aimed to identify whether genetic polymorphisms within L-SIGN or DC-SIGN correlate with hepatitis C virus (HCV) susceptibility. A men who have sex with men (MSM) and an injecting drug users (IDU) cohort of HCV cases and multiple-exposed uninfected controls were genotyped for numerous L-SIGN and DC-SIGN polymorphisms. DC-SIGN single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) -139, -871, and -939 correlated with HCV acquisition in the MSM cohort only.