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Particular alleles of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and immunoglobulin gamma (GM) and immunoglobulin kappa (KM) allotypes (polymorphic determinants of IgG heavy chains and κ-type light chains, respectively) are associated with the outcome of several infections. To examine their role in the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we genotyped 50 individuals with resolved and 117 with persistent HCV infection. None of the GM, KM or HLA-C genotypes by themselves were associated with the resolution or persistence of HCV infection. However, particular combinations of HLA and GM genotypes were associated significantly with the outcome of HCV infection. Subjects with the HLA C1C1 genotype, in the absence of GM ff, were more than seven times [odds ratio (OR) 7·15] as likely to have persistent infection as the subjects who lacked both these genotypes. The presence of GM ff, in the absence of HLA C1C2, was associated with the resolution of infection (OR 0·27). The absence of GM fz, in the presence of HLA C2C2, was also associated with the resolution of infection (OR 0·27). Compared to the subjects who lacked both these genotypes, subjects with GM fz, in the absence of HLA C1C2, were almost four times as likely to have persistent infection (OR 3·91); similarly, subjects with HLA C1C2, in the absence of GM fz, were almost three times as likely to have persistent infection (OR 2·80). These results show, for the first time, interactive effects of GM and HLA genotypes in the outcome of HCV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the genotype distribution of Pneumocystis jiroveci in 79 respiratory samples obtained from 15 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with P. jiroveci pneumonia and 64 human immunodeficiency virus-negative subjects with different chronic pulmonary diseases. The genotyping was based in analysis of 2 independent genetic loci: the mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA (mt LSU rRNA) fragment (assessed by direct sequencing) and the gene for dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS; assessed by restriction fragment-length polymorphism). The mt LSU rRNA analysis revealed the presence of 3 different polymorphisms for both populations. The major genotype, 85C/248C, was found to be significantly higher in patients with AIDS and P. jiroveci pneumonia than in patients with pulmonary disease. The rate of genotypes 85A/248C and 85T/248C was similar in both groups. The analysis of DHPS genotypes assesses the prevalence of its 4 possible genotypes, with 35.5% of genotypes related to sulfa resistance. The data suggest a common source of infection between both groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article on polymorphism in Spanish children with cystic fibrosis published a previous issue of the periodical.