High Heritability Is Compatible with the Broad Distribution of Set Point Viral Load in HIV Carriers

Open access
Date
2015-02-06Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 13 times in
Web of Science
Cited 12 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
Set point viral load in HIV patients ranges over several orders of magnitude and is a key determinant of disease progression in HIV. A number of recent studies have reported high heritability of set point viral load implying that viral genetic factors contribute substantially to the overall variation in viral load. The high heritability is surprising given the diversity of host factors associated with controlling viral infection. Here we develop an analytical model that describes the temporal changes of the distribution of set point viral load as a function of heritability. This model shows that high heritability is the most parsimonious explanation for the observed variance of set point viral load. Our results thus not only reinforce the credibility of previous estimates of heritability but also shed new light onto mechanisms of viral pathogenesis. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000099678Publication status
publishedJournal / series
PLoS pathogensVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)Organisational unit
03584 - Bonhoeffer, Sebastian / Bonhoeffer, Sebastian
Funding
268540 - The population biology of drug resistance: Key principles for a more sustainable use of drugs (EC)
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 13 times in
Web of Science
Cited 12 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics