Effect of HIV-1 Subtype C integrase mutations implied using molecular modeling and docking data.

The degree of sequence variation in HIV-1 integrase genes among infected patients and their impact on clinical response to Anti retroviral therapy (ART) is of interest. Therefore, we collected plasma samples from 161 HIV-1 infected individuals for subsequent integrase gene amplification (1087 bp). Thus, 102 complete integrase gene sequences identified as HIV-1 subtype-C was assembled.

Epidemiological and clinical aspects on West Nile virus, a globally emerging pathogen.

Background: Since the isolation of West Nile virus (WNV) in 1937, in Uganda, it has spread globally, causing significant morbidity and mortality. While birds serve as amplifier hosts, mosquitoes of the Culex genus function as vectors. Humans and horses are dead end hosts.

Frequency of transmitted drug resistance mutations among treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals at a tertiary care centre in South India.

Introduction: Morbidity and mortality among HIV-1-infected individuals has been dramatically reduced by the implementation of combinational antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, the efficiency of these therapies is compromised due to HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRMs).

Methods: We collected a total of 127 samples from ART-naïve HIV-infected individuals and sequenced the pol gene and analysed for drug resistance mutations using the Calibrated Population Resistance (CPR) tool in the Stanford database.

HIV-1 seroprevalence and awareness of mother-to-child transmission issues among women seeking antenatal care in Tamil Nadu, India.

Background: Despite increasing availability of HIV-1 testing, education, and methods to prevent transmission, Indian women and their children remain at risk of acquiring HIV. We assessed the seroprevalence and awareness about HIV among pregnant women presenting to a private tertiary care hospital in South India.

Methods: Seroprevalence was determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing, and questionnaires were analyzed using chi-square statistics and odds ratios to look for factors associated with HIV positivity.

Performance of a rapid immunochromatographic screening test for detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2: experience at a tertiary care hospital in South India.

The performance characteristics of a rapid immunochromatographic-screening test, SD Bioline HIV-1/2 3.0 (Standard Diagnostics Inc., Kyonggi-do, South Korea) on 23,754 sera and 30 plasma samples are reported.

Molecular epidemiology of HIV.

The phylogenic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the env gene has enabled classification of HIV-1 into three groups. The group M of HIV-1 infection has been classified into 9 different genetic subtypes A-K, with E and I being classified as circulating recombinants forms (CRFs). The groups O and N are less frequently encountered in human infections.