Low level of baseline resistance in recently HCV-infected men who have sex with men with high-risk behaviours.

Objectives: Presence of baseline hepatitis C virus (HCV) resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) can impair treatment outcome of direct-acting antivirals. We investigated the prevalence of pre-treatment HCV resistance among recently HCV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with high risk behaviours, either human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected or at high risk of HIV acquisition and under pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Methods: NS5A and NS3 fragments were deep sequenced on pre-treatment samples of 72 subjects using Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing technology.

Acceptability of on-site rapid HIV/HBV/HCV testing and HBV vaccination among three at-risk populations in distinct community-healthcare outreach centres: the ANRS-SHS 154 CUBE study.

Background: HIV, HBV and HCV infections continue to represent major health concerns, especially among key at-risk populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWIDs), transgender women (TGW) and sex workers (SW). The objective of the ANRS-CUBE study was to evaluate the acceptability of a healthcare, community-based strategy offering a triple rapid HIV-HBV-HCV testing, and HBV vaccination, targeted at three priority groups (MSM, PWIDs and TGW/SWs), in three community centers, in the Paris area.

Methods: This longitudinal multicentric non-randomized study included all adult volunteers attending one of the three specialized community centers in Paris, between July 2014 and December 2015.

Uncommon Detection of Mixed HCV Genotype Infections in Recently Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Introduction: Mixed hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) infections are clinically important as different genotypes have varied sensitivities to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). A high prevalence of mixed GT infections was observed in individuals who inject drugs and had multiple HCV exposures. The prevalence of mixed HCV GT infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) and high-risk behaviors was investigated by ultra-deep sequencing (UDS).

Shared HCV Transmission Networks Among HIV-1-Positive and HIV-1-Negative Men Having Sex With Men by Ultradeep Sequencing.

Objective: Several studies reported hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission networks among men having sex with men (MSM) in Europe and the spread of HCV strains from HIV-HCV coinfected toward HCV monoinfected MSM. We aimed to investigate HCV transmission dynamics among HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM by ultradeep sequencing (UDS).

Design And Methods: NS5B fragment (388 bp) was sequenced from virus of 50 HIV-positive and 18 HIV-negative patients diagnosed with recent HCV infection.

High clustering of acute HCV infections and high rate of associated STIs among Parisian HIV-positive male patients.

Background: Increasing incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men having sex with men (MSM) has been described in recent years. Phylogenetic analyses of acute HCV infections were undertaken to characterize the dynamics during the epidemic in Paris, and associated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were evaluated.

Methods: Sanger sequencing of polymerase gene was performed.

A Finger-Stick Whole-Blood HIV Self-Test as an HIV Screening Tool Adapted to the General Public.

Background: In 2013, the French Health Authority approved the use of HIV self-tests in pharmacies for the general public. This screening tool will allow an increase in the number of screenings and a reduction in the delay between infection and diagnosis, thus reducing the risk of further infections. We previously compared 5 HIV-self test candidates (4 oral fluid and one whole blood) and demonstrated that the whole blood HIV test exhibited the optimal level of performance (sensitivity/specificity).

Combining the Estimated Date of HIV Infection with a Phylogenetic Cluster Study to Better Understand HIV Spread: Application in a Paris Neighbourhood.

Objectives: To relate socio-demographic and virological information to phylogenetic clustering in HIV infected patients in a limited geographical area and to evaluate the role of recently infected individuals in the spread of HIV.

Methods: HIV-1 pol sequences from newly diagnosed and treatment-naive patients receiving follow-up between 2008 and 2011 by physicians belonging to a health network in Paris were used to build a phylogenetic tree using neighbour-joining analysis. Time since infection was estimated by immunoassay to define recently infected patients (very early infected presenters, VEP).