HIV forensics: pitfalls and acceptable standards in the use of phylogenetic analysis as evidence in criminal investigations of HIV transmission
HIV forensics: pitfalls and acceptable standards in the use of phylogenetic analysis as evidence in criminal investigations of HIV transmission
复制标题
DOI：
10.1111/j.1468-1293.2007.00486.x
复制
发表时间：
2007-09-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
Geretti, A. M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bernard, E. J.;Azad, Y.;Geretti, A. M.
背景系统发育分析——对艾滋病毒毒株之间遗传相关性的研究——最近已被用于刑事起诉，作为艾滋病毒传播责任的证据。在这些试验中，病毒学家的专家意见至关重要。 缺陷 HIV 基因序列的系统发育分析非常复杂，其结果无法达到人类 DNA 法医分析所获得的确定性水平。尽管两个人可能携带密切相关的艾滋病病毒毒株，但这些毒株不一定是两人独有的，并且可能延伸到同一传播网络内的其他人。可接受的标准出于法医学目的，系统发育分析应由具有相关专业知识的实验室采用严格的方法在严格控制的条件下进行。纳入正确的控制措施至关重要，这些控制措施应在流行病学和时间上与接受调查的各方相关。使用不适当的控制可能会夸大原告和被告病毒株之间的任何相关性，使其具有惊人的独特性。获得相关控制通常很困难。如果使用方便但不太适当的对照，则应相应地调整对研究结果的解释。结论系统发育分析不能证明艾滋病毒传播直接发生在两个人之间。然而，它可以通过证明被告携带与原告无关的病毒株来免除个人的责任。专家证人应承认可能做出的推论的局限性，并在书面和口头证词中选择正确的语言。
BackgroundPhylogenetic analysis - the study of the genetic relatedness between HIV strains - has recently been used in criminal prosecutions as evidence of responsibility for HIV transmission. In these trials, the expert opinion of virologists has been of critical importance.PitfallsPhylogenetic analysis of HIV gene sequences is complex and its findings do not achieve the levels of certainty obtained with the forensic analysis of human DNA. Although two individuals may carry HIV strains that are closely related, these will not necessarily be unique to the two parties and could extend to other persons within the same transmission network.Acceptable standardsFor forensic purposes, phylogenctic analysis should be conducted under strictly controlled conditions by laboratories with relevant expertise applying rigorous methods. It is vitally important to include the right controls, which should be epidemiologically and temporally relevant to the parties under investigation. Use of inappropriate controls can exaggerate any relatedness between the virus strains of the complainant and defendant as being strikingly unique. It will be often difficult to obtain the relevant controls. If convenient but less appropriate controls are used, interpretation of the findings should be tempered accordingly.ConclusionsPhylogenetic analysis cannot prove that HIV transmission occurred directly between two individuals. However, it can exonerate individuals by demonstrating that the defendant carries a virus strain unrelated to that of the complainant. Expert witnesses should acknowledge the limitations of the inferences that might be made and choose the correct language in both written and verbal testimony.