title: Molecular testing of multiple HIV-1 transmissions in a criminal case.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the a priori hypothesis of HIV-1 transmission from one suspect to six recipients in a criminal case.
  
  
  METHODS
  Partial pol and/or env sequences were obtained for at least two samples of the suspect and the victims. Appropriate local controls were sampled based on epidemiological and subtype criteria. Phylogenetic testing was performed using different reconstruction methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phylogenetic analyses consistently inferred a monophyletic cluster for the suspect and victim samples in both genome regions. This was highly supported by parametric and non-parametric bootstrapping techniques. Moreover, the controls most closely related to the suspect-victim cluster had a similar geographical origin to the suspect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking into account the limitations on the conclusions that can be drawn from molecular investigations we could infer that our molecular data is consistent with a scenario of multiple HIV transmission between suspect and victims.
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute, KULeuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. philippe.lemey@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lemey
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Dooren
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Laethem
authors.forename: Yoeri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schrooten
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Derdelinckx
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goubau
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brun-Vézinet
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaira
authors.forename: Anne-Mieke
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vandamme
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D015752:Genes, env / Q000235:genetics; D015751:Genes, pol / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011902:Rape
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral