[HIV-1 genetic variants in the Asian part of Russia: a study (2005-2010)].

The HIV-1 genetic variants circulated in the Asian part of the Russian Federation in 2005-2010 were studied. The samples of HIV-1 (427 in total) were collected in Khabarovsk, Magadan, Kurgan, Krasnoyarsk, Noyabr'sk, Yakutsk, Altay, and Tyva. Sequencing of some genome regions followed by the phylogenetic analysis or specific Internet resource sampling were used as the main methods of the HIV subtyping.

[Analysis of the polymorphism of the genome region of HIV-1 encoding the fusion protein].

The prevalence of the mutations associated with HIV fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide resistance in Russia and CIS countries was studied. Enfuvirtide resistance mutations were not observed among studied viruses in Russia and CIS countries so far. It was found that high rate (35%) of natural polymorphism mutations were associated with enfuvirtide hypersusceptibility.

[Comparative analysis of laboratory methods for differential diagnosis of early HIV infection].

The study deals with the current topical problem in the development of a laboratory algorithm for the detection of early stages of HIV infection and for the creation of a monitoring system on this basis for the spread of drug-resistant HIV-1 strains. The paper presents the results of experimental examination of the most accessible health care methods for the differential diagnosis of early HIV infection, by using the test systems in Russia and gives practical recommendations on their application.

Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection with human ezrin peptide one (HEP1) in HIV infected patients.

This report shows the therapeutic benefit of HEP1 (human ezrin peptide 324-337; TEKKRRETVEREKE) monotherapy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV infected patients in two clinical studies. In the Pilot Study I, 16 of 18 patients responded well to the treatment with significant reductions of HCV viral load and a normalization of serum liver enzymes. In 8 of 18 patients, HCV RNA became undetectable, and 3 of 8 interferon/ribavirin treatment failure patients showed undetectable HCV load following HEP1 treatment.

[Molecular genetic characteristics of HIV-1 in Russia].

The paper presents data on the variants of human immunodefficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) currently circulating in Russia. The subtype A HIV-1 variant dominating is shown to be most widespread among drug-injected users in the most regions under study. By using the results of an analysis of 1,464 blood samples taken in the past 4 years in 69 subjects of the Russian Federation, the authors have estimated that this HIV-1 variant is responsible for 93% of all HIV-infection cases in the country.