The reverse transcriptase (RT) mutation V118I is associated with virologic failure on abacavir-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) in HIV-1 infection.

Antiviral efficacy and serum lipids were investigated following a switch from long-term successful protease inhibitor based antiretroviral treatment (PI-ART) to abacavir-based ART in 29 patients who have been followed for 28 months thereafter. Virologic failure occurred within 3 months in 21% (6/29) of the patients, and abacavir hypersensitivity in 1 individual. The remaining 22 patients continue to have HIV RNA < 50 copies/ml after 28 months with a CD4 increase from 605 +/- 265 x 10(6)/l to 798 +/- 366 x 10(6)/l (p < 0.

Reduced DNA ligase activity in etoposide resistant human lymphatic leukaemia CEM cells.

Drug resistance is an obstacle preventing success of cancer chemotherapy. Resistance of vaccinia virus towards the topoisomerase II (topo II) targeting anti-cancer drug etoposide has been mapped to the viral DNA ligase gene. The present study was performed to elucidate if the DNA ligase activity, besides topo II levels, was altered in human lymphatic leukaemia cell strains with different levels of etoposide resistance.