HIV-1 subtype B and C integrase enzymes exhibit differential patterns of resistance to integrase inhibitors in biochemical assays.

Background: Because of high intersubtype HIV-1 genetic variability, it has been shown that subtype-specific patterns of resistance to antiretroviral drugs exist. We wished to ascertain whether this might be true for integrase inhibitors.

Methods: We compared the susceptibility of subtype B and C HIV-1 integrase enzymes, harboring the previously reported resistance mutations E92Q, N155H, and E92Q/N155H, to clinically relevant integrase inhibitors.