First observation of HIV type 1 drug resistance mutations in Algeria.

This study demonstrates for the first time HIV-1 resistance mutations to all classes of antiretroviral drugs available in Algeria (NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs) in treated patients at failure. Moreover, it is shown that mutations to NRTIs and PIs can be observed in untreated patients in this country where there is high HIV-1 diversity.

Characterization of HIV-1 isolates from antiretroviral drug-naive children in southern India.

Access to antiretroviral therapy has expanded in many developing countries, including India. The standard first-line regimens consist of a combination of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, in a fixed drug combination. Data regarding resistance to these drugs are scarce, especially in children.

Resistance mutations in subtype C HIV type 1 isolates from Indian patients of Mumbai receiving NRTIs plus NNRTIs and experiencing a treatment failure: resistance to AR.

We present here the first data available on resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in India. In these subtype C isolates, we have observed most of the mutations noted in reverse transcriptase (RT) for subtype B with some additional substitutions (at positions 98, 203, 208, and 221) that will warrant attention in the algorithms used.

Increasing HIV type 1 polymorphic diversity but no resistance to antiretroviral drugs in untreated patients from Central African Republic: a 2005 study.

As the HIV-1 pandemic becomes increasingly complex and as new countries acceed to antiretroviral drugs, the molecular characterization of HIV-1 strains circulating has important implications for vaccine research and for the efficacy of treatments. To follow the evolution of HIV-1 diversity in African countries, we have carried out a molecular analysis of HIV-1 strains collected from 150 HIV-1-positive pregnant women recruited in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). We have sequenced reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PROT) genes to (1) characterize the subtypes and CRFs, (2) describe the polymorphism of RT and PROT, particularly at the positions of drug resistance mutations in subtype B, and (3) observe potential drug resistance mutations and evaluate the prevalence of isolates bearing such mutations in this untreated population.

High diversity of HIV type 1 in Algeria.

We have sequenced different genes of HIV-1 strains from infected individuals recruited in various geographic parts of Algeria; phylogenetic trees were constructed yielding molecular characterization of these strains. Subtype B accounts for 56% of the samples studied and is therefore the predominant subtype, particularly in the north part of the country; but there is a high diversity of the virus including CRF02_AG, CRF06_cpx, CRF02/CRF06 interrecombinants, and different other intersubtype and/or inter-CRF recombinants. The prevalence of these non-B viruses increases in the south part of Algeria that borders sub-Saharan African countries.

Susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs of CRF01_AE, CRF02_AG, and subtype C viruses from untreated patients of Africa and Asia: comparative genotypic and phenotypic data.

Non-B HIV-1 viruses are predominant in developing countries where access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) is progressively being intensified. It is important to obtain more data on the susceptibility of these viruses to available ARVs. CRF01_AE, CRF02_AG, and subtype C strains of HIV-1 obtained from untreated patients from Vietnam, Cote d'Ivoire, and India were analyzed for their in vitro susceptibility to NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs, and an entry inhibitor (T-20) using a recombinant viral assay (PHENOSCRIPT).

In vitro photochemical inactivation of cell-associated human T-cell leukemia virus Type I and II in human platelet concentrates and plasma by use of amotosalen.

Background: Human T-cell leukemia virus Types I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II), blood-borne retroviruses found worldwide, can cause leukemia, immunosuppression, and severe neurologic diseases. In most countries, HTLV-I and -II screening is not performed systematically for blood donations. A new photochemical treatment (PCT) with a synthetic psoralen was developed to inactivate most pathogens in platelet (PLT) concentrates or plasma and to improve the safety of blood donations.

Inactivation of viruses in platelet concentrates by photochemical treatment with amotosalen and long-wavelength ultraviolet light.

Background: Viral contamination of platelet (PLT) concentrates can result in transfusion-transmitted diseases. A photochemical treatment (PCT) process with amotosalen-HCl and long-wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA), which cross-links nucleic acids, was developed to inactivate viruses and other pathogens in PLT concentrates.

Study Design And Methods: High titers of pathogenic or blood-borne viruses, representing 10 different families, were added to single-donor PLT concentrates containing 3.

Molecular characterization of HIV type 1 isolates from untreated patients of Mumbai (Bombay), India, and detection of rare resistance mutations.

The molecular characterization of HIV-1 isolates in drug-naive cases in the early stages of HIV disease was studied in 128 cases from Mumbai (Bombay), India. Subtype C was largely predominant followed by A-C intersubtype recombinants, one subtype A and one CRF01 AE. Compared to subtype B, subtype C exhibited an important polymorphism; the percentages of substitutions could reach more than 90%.