Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Largest HIV-1 CRF02_AG Outbreak in Spain: Evidence for Onward Transmissions

Background and Aim: The circulating recombinant form 02_AG (CRF02_AG) is the predominant clade among the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) non-Bs with a prevalence of 5.97% (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 5.41–6.57%) across Spain. Our aim was to estimate the levels of regional clustering for CRF02_AG and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the largest CRF02_AG subepidemic in Spain.Methods: We studied 396 CRF02_AG sequences obtained from HIV-1 diagnosed patients during 2000–2014 from 10 autonomous communities of Spain. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 391 CRF02_AG sequences along with all globally sampled CRF02_AG sequences (N = 3,302) as references. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis was performed to the largest CRF02_AG monophyletic cluster by a Bayesian method in BEAST v1.8.0 and by reconstructing ancestral states using the criterion of parsimony in Mesquite v3.4, respectively.Results: The HIV-1 CRF02_AG prevalence differed across Spanish autonomous communities we sampled from (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 52.7% of the CRF02_AG sequences formed 56 monophyletic clusters, with a range of 2–79 sequences. The CRF02_AG regional dispersal differed across Spain (p = 0.003), as suggested by monophyletic clustering. For the largest monophyletic cluster (subepidemic) (N = 79), 49.4% of the clustered sequences originated from Madrid, while most sequences (51.9%) had been obtained from men having sex with men (MSM). Molecular clock analysis suggested that the origin (tMRCA) of the CRF02_AG subepidemic was in 2002 (median estimate; 95% Highest Posterior Density-HPD interval: 1999–2004). Additionally, we found significant clustering within the CRF02_AG subepidemic according to the ethnic origin.Conclusion: CRF02_AG has been introduced as a result of multiple introductions in Spain, following regional dispersal in several cases. We showed that CRF02_AG transmissions were mostly due to regional dispersal in Spain. The hot-spot for the largest CRF02_AG regional subepidemic in Spain was in Madrid associated with MSM transmission risk group. The existence of subepidemics suggest that several spillovers occurred from Madrid to other areas. CRF02_AG sequences from Hispanics were clustered in a separate subclade suggesting no linkage between the local and Hispanic subepidemics

El derecho fundamental a la investigación científica

El derecho fundamental a la investigación científica posee un singular tratamiento en la Constitución española. El término investigación científica se menciona, pero no para denominar el derecho. Su regulación junto con los derechos de libre expresión y otros agrava el problema. El artículo realiza algunas precisiones conceptuales sobre el derecho, objeto, contenido y límites. Y constata las dificultades para establecer la diferencia entre investigación y experimentación. Una diferencia determinante para proteger correctamente este derecho fundamental y otros implicados en la moderna investigación biomédica.The scientific research fundamental right possesses a singular treatment in the Spanish Constitution. The term scientific investigation is mentioned, but not to denominate the right. Its regulation together with the rights of free expression and others increases the problem. The article states some conceptual precisions about the right, aim, content and limits. And it verifies the difficulties to establish the difference between investigation and experimentation. A decisive difference to correctly protect this fundamental right and others implied in the biomedical modern research

Nicolás Ramiro Rico: El maestro recatado

This paper analyzes the intellectual trajectory of the Professor Nicolás Ramiro Rico (1910-1977), key figure in the field of public law and political science in Spain since the postwar to the transition. In particular, its relations with other scholars and doctrinal significance of their contributions are studied.Este trabajo analiza la trayectoria intelectual del Catedrático de Derecho político Nicolás Ramiro Rico (1910-1977), figura clave en esta disciplina desde la postguerra a la transición. En especial, se estudian sus relaciones con otros académicos y la significación de sus contribuciones doctrinale