Detection of archived lamivudine-associated resistance mutations in virologically suppressed, lamivudine-experienced HIV-infected adults by different genotyping techniques (GEN-PRO study).

Background: Previously selected lamivudine resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) may remain archived within the proviral HIV-DNA.

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of proviral DNA genotyping to detect lamivudine RAMs in HIV-1 virologically suppressed participants; the correlation between Sanger and next generation sequencing (NGS); and predictive factors for detection of lamivudine RAMs in proviral DNA.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of participants on stable antiretroviral therapy and suppressed for ≥1 year.

Long-term efficacy of dolutegravir plus lamivudine for maintenance of HIV viral suppression in adults with and without historical resistance to lamivudine: Week 96 results of ART-PRO pilot study.

Background: In the ART-PRO pilot trial there were no virological failures through 48 weeks of treatment with dolutegravir plus lamivudine in suppressed individuals with and without archived lamivudine resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) detected through next-generation sequencing (NGS) but without evidence of lamivudine RAMs in baseline proviral DNA population sequencing.

Objectives: To present 96 week results from ART-PRO.

Methods: Open-label, single-arm pilot trial.

Prevalence and Clinical Manifestations of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in a Screening Program in Madrid (PICCSA Study).

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of congenital infection worldwide. Up to 15%-20% of infected newborns will develop long-term sequelae such as hearing loss and neurologic abnormalities. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of congenital CMV infection (cCMV) and associated clinical abnormalities in Spain.

HBV-RNA Co-amplification May Influence HBV DNA Viral Load Determination.

Despite effective hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA suppression, HBV RNA can circulate in patients receiving nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs). Current assays quantify HBV DNA by either real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which uses DNA polymerase, or transcription-mediated amplification, which uses reverse-transcriptase (RT) and RNA polymerase. We assessed the effect of RT capability on HBV-DNA quantification in samples from three cohorts, including patients with quantified HBV RNA.

Dolutegravir plus lamivudine for maintenance of HIV viral suppression in adults with and without historical resistance to lamivudine: 48-week results of a non-randomized, pilot clinical trial (ART-PRO).

Background: We investigated the efficacy of a switch to dolutegravir plus lamivudine in aviremic individuals without evidence of persistent lamivudine resistance-associated mutations in baseline proviral DNA population sequencing.

Methods: Open-label, single-arm, 48-week pilot trial. HIV-1 infected adults, naïve to integrase inhibitors, with CD4+ above 350 cell/μL and fewer than 50 HIV-1 RNA copies per mL the year prior to study entry switched to dolutegravir plus lamivudine.

The algorithm used for the interpretation of doravirine transmitted drug resistance strongly influences clinical practice and guideline recommendations.

Objectives: We report the results of the reverse transcriptase (RT)/protease (PR) transmitted drug resistance (TDR) prevalence study in 2018, focusing on doravirine resistance-associated mutations and the differences observed when Stanford or French National Agency for AIDS Research (ANRS)/Spanish Network of AIDS Research (RIS)/IAS-USA resistance interpretation algorithms are used to describe clinically relevant resistance.

Methods: We used the WHO 2009 list to investigate the prevalence of NNRTI, NRTI and PI TDR, in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected patients, adding mutations E138A/G/K/Q/R, V106I, V108I, V179L, G190Q, H221Y, F227C/L/V, M230IDR, L234I, P236L and Y318F in RT. The prevalence of doravirine resistance-associated mutations, as described by Soulie et al.

Analytical performance of four molecular platforms used for HIV-1, HBV and HCV viral load determinations.

: Viral load (VL) quantification is important for the management of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1-infected patients. Several semi- or fully automated systems and assays are available that can be used to measure VL for these and other targets. : We assessed the accuracy, genotype/subtype inclusivity, and precision of four VL assays for three viral targets: cobas 4800 (Roche), cobas 6800 (Roche), Aptima (Hologic) and VERIS (Beckman), using WHO standards, cell culture supernatants and clinical samples.

Surveillance of transmitted drug resistance to integrase inhibitors in Spain: implications for clinical practice.

Background: Integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) constitute at present one of the pillars of first-line ART.

Objectives: To study the prevalence of and the trend in transmitted drug resistance (TDR) to INSTIs in ART-naive patients in Spain.

Methods: During the period 2012-17, 1109 patients from CoRIS were analysed.

Resistance of high fitness hepatitis C virus to lethal mutagenesis.

Viral fitness quantifies the degree of virus adaptation to a given environment. How viral fitness can influence the mutant spectrum complexity of a viral quasispecies subjected to lethal mutagenesis has not been investigated. Here we document that two high fitness hepatitis C virus populations display higher resistance to the mutagenic nucleoside analogues favipiravir and ribavirin than their parental, low fitness HCV.

Mx1, OAS1 and OAS2 polymorphisms are associated with the severity of liver disease in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients: A cross-sectional study.

The mechanisms involved in the chronic hepatitis C progression are incompletely understood. The aim was to analyze the association between 2'5'oligoadenylate synthetase 1,2 and 3 (OAS1-3) and myxovirus resistance proteins 1 (Mx1) polymorphisms and severity of liver disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients. We performed a cross-sectional study in 219 patients that underwent a liver biopsy.

NS3 Resistance-Associated Variants (RAVs) in Patients Infected with HCV Genotype 1a in Spain.

Background: Resistance-associated variants have been related to treatment failure of hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy with direct-acting antiviral drugs. The aim of our study was to analyze the prevalence of clinically relevant resistance-associated variants within NS3 in patients infected with HCV genotype 1a (GT1a) in Spain.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 2568 patients from 115 hospitals throughout Spain (2014-2015).

Optimal vitamin D plasma levels are associated with lower bacterial DNA translocation in HIV/hepatitis c virus coinfected patients.

Objective: Vitamin D has been linked to the immune response modulation and the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Therefore, vitamin D might be involved in bacterial translocation related to HIV infection. Our major aim was to analyze the association between plasma levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA (bactDNA) in 120 HIV/hepatitis c virus (HCV) coinfected patients.

IL15 polymorphism is associated with advanced fibrosis, inflammation-related biomarkers and virological response in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfection.

Background & Aims: IL15 is an essential cytokine in both innate and adaptive immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim was to analyze whether IL15 rs10833 is associated with liver disease severity and response to pegylated-interferon-alpha plus ribavirin (pegIFN-alpha/RBV) therapy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-/HCV-co-infected patients.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 315 patients who started pegIFN-alpha/RBV therapy.

Impact of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 gene polymorphism (rs738409) on severity of liver disease in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients.

Objective: To analyze the association between patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 gene (PNPLA3) rs738409 polymorphism and severity of liver disease in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 215 patients who underwent a liver biopsy. PNPLA3 rs738409 polymorphism was genotyped using GoldenGate assay.

Short Communication: CXCL12 rs1029153 Polymorphism Is Associated with the Sustained Virological Response in HIV/Hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected Patients on Hepatitis C Virus Therapy.

The immune response against HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection partly depends on chemokine-mediated recruitment of specific T cells. CXCL12 polymorphisms have been associated with AIDS progression and survival, but there are no data related to HCV infection. The aim of this study was to determine whether CXCL12 polymorphisms are related so as to achieve sustained virological response (SVR) after HCV therapy with pegylated-interferon-alpha/ribavirin (pegIFN-α/ribavirin) in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) polymorphisms are associated with non-progression of chronic hepatitis C in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) polymorphisms have been related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim was to estimate the association of TLR8 polymorphisms with HCV-related outcomes in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. We performed a cross-sectional study of 220 patients who underwent a liver biopsy.

Relationship between ITPA polymorphisms and hemolytic anemia in HCV-infected patients after ribavirin-based therapy: a meta-analysis.

Background: There is growing evidence that variations in the gene encoding inosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (ITPase), known as inosine triphosphatase (ITPA), are related to hemolytic anemia, which is frequently observed among hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients receiving ribavirin (RBV)-based therapy. We performed a meta-analysis of all eligible studies assessing ITPA gene polymorphisms related to RBV-induced hemolytic anemia in HCV-infected patients published in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library prior to the end of 2014.

Methods: Three outcomes were evaluated: (1) hemoglobin decline, (2) severe anemia, and (3) RBV dose reduction or treatment discontinuation.

IL7RA polymorphisms predict the CD4+ recovery in HIV patients on cART.

Background: The IL7RA polymorphisms have recently been associated with CD4+ T-cell decline in untreated HIV-infected subjects and CD4+ T-cell recovery in patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether IL7RA polymorphisms are associated with CD4+ T-cell recovery in HIV-infected patients on long-term cART.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective study in 151 naïve cART patients with severe immunodeficiency (CD4+ counts ≤200 cells/mm(3) ).

Association between IL7R polymorphisms and severe liver disease in HIV/HCV coinfected patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a critical factor for T cell development and for maintaining and restoring homeostasis of mature T cells. Polymorphisms at α-chain of the IL-7 receptor (IL7R or CD127) gene are related to evolution of HIV-infection, but there are no data concerning the evolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between IL7R polymorphisms and severe liver disease in HCV/HIV coinfected patients.

TLR3 polymorphisms are associated with virologic response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Background: Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3) is a cellular receptor that may recognize double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from viruses, resulting in production of proinflammatory cytokines and interferons, which are important for the adaptive immune response.

Objectives: To analyze the association between Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3) polymorphisms (rs3775291 and rs13126816) and virologic response to pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin (pegIFNα/RBV) therapy in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective study in 321 naïve patients treated with pegIFNα/RBV.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of CXCL9-11 chemokines are associated with liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Background: CXCR3A-associated chemokines (CXCL9-11) are implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We analyzed the association between CXCL9-11 polymorphisms and significant liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in 220 patients who were genotyped for CXCL9-11 polymorphisms (CXCL9 rs10336, CXCL10 rs3921, and CXCL11 rs4619915) using GoldenGate assay.

FTO rs9939609 polymorphism is associated with metabolic disturbances and response to HCV therapy in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Background: The Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Protein (FTO) gene rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance (IR), and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the general population. The aim of our study was to examine for the first time the association of the rs9939609 polymorphism with metabolic disturbances, liver disease and virologic response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy with pegylated-interferon-alpha plus ribavirin (pegIFNα/RBV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 261 patients, of whom 178 were subsequently treated with pegIFNα/RBV therapy.

rs7903146 polymorphism at transcription factor 7 like 2 gene is associated with total cholesterol and lipoprotein profile in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients.

Transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) rs7903146 polymorphism has been associated with metabolic disturbance and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism and potential disturbances on the lipid profile in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients. We performed a cross-sectional study on 263 HIV/HVC-coinfected patients.