HIV type 1 pol gene diversity and archived nevirapine resistance mutation in pregnant women in Rwanda

Jean Servais*, Christine Lambert, Etienne Karita, Dirk Vanhove, Aurelie Fischer, Therese Baurith, Jean Claude Schmit, François Schneider, Robert Hemmer, Vic Arendt

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study aimed to find out whether genetic polymorphisms were present in positions potentially affecting susceptibility to antiretrovirals in non-B subtypes from HIV-1-infected patients in Rwanda. Viral pol gene diversity was investigated by direct sequencing in 43 treatment-naive women. In addition, 10 DNA sequences from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed 6 weeks after a single dose of nevirapine (prevention of mother-to-child transmission program). Phylogenetic analyses have shown 34 subtype A1, 6 subtype C, and 2 subtype D strains. In addition, an A/C recombinant between the protease (PR) (subtype A1) and the reverse transcriptase (RT) (subtype C) was identified. In the PR coding region, high numbers of polymorphisms were found, including substitutions in secondary PR resistance sites. PR 35D, 361, and 37N were always present within subtype A as were PR 93L in subtype C strains. PR 10I/V, 20R, 33F, and 77V were found in subtype A whereas PR 36I was highly prevalent in subtype C strains. The A/C recombinant displayed substitutions related to resistance (PR 10, 33, 36 and RT 118). One nevirapine resistance mutation (RT 181Y/C) was found in proviral DNA after 6 weeks. In conclusion, subtypes A and C are predominant in this cohort in Rwanda. Substitutions similar to secondary protease inhibitor resistance mutations are common before treatment whereas major resistance mutation may be archived after a single dose of nevirapine. Accordingly, the hypothesis of a genetic background effect in non-B strains has to be further addressed in programs of introduction of antivirals in Africa.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)279-283
Number of pages5
JournalAIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2004

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'HIV type 1 pol gene diversity and archived nevirapine resistance mutation in pregnant women in Rwanda'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this