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Toxicity of non-nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

The non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV), and delaviridine (DLV) are increasingly being used to treat HIV infection. Studies have shown excellent tolerance and efficacy and less development of virological resistance with HIV regimens that include NNRTIs. Nevertheless, abnormalities in liver enzymes are common in patients with HIV infection, and there are multiple etiologies for these abnormalities, including drug toxicity, viral hepatitis, opportunistic infections, and substance abuse. In particular, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can result in hepatotoxicity through a variety of mechanisms, such as mitochondrial toxicity, lipodystrophy syndrome, and steatohepatitis. The NNRTIs have been most frequently implicated in hypersensitivity reactions. NVP-containing HAART regimens may be more hepatotoxic than are those with EFV and DLV, at least for the first 6 weeks, although the data are still contradictory. Coinfection with hepatitis C and B viruses appears to significantly increase the risk of toxicity, and therefore all patients should be screened for viral hepatitis prior to commencing HAART. Close monitoring of transaminases is suggested in all patients commencing HAART, especially those with preexisting liver disease and coinfection with viral hepatitis.

Alkynes↗

Kinetic analysis of the catalysis of strand transfer from internal regions of heteropolymeric RNA templates by human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase.

The kinetic mechanism of HIV reverse transcriptase catalyzed strand transfer synthesis (i.e. switching of the primer to a new template) from internal regions of natural sequence RNA was investigated. The system consisted of a 142 nucleotide RNA template (donor), primed with a specific 20 nucleotide DNA oligonucleotide that was used to initiate synthesis. An RNA with homology to an internal region of the donor was used as acceptor template. Using 32P-labeled DNA oligonucleotide, the primer-extension products made from full-length synthesis on the donor (108 bases in length) or homologous transfer to and extension on the acceptor (155 bases) were monitored. Results indicated that the maximum efficiency of transfer (the ratio of transfer products to donor-directed+transfer products x 100) in this particular system was about 25% while the theoretical Vmax for the rate of appearance of transfer products at infinite acceptor concentration was about 20-fold lower than the measured rate for full-length donor-directed products. The Km for acceptor template in the transfer reaction was about 8 nM. Experiments using the above donor template hybridized to a specific DNA that has been shown to transfer to the acceptor indicated that RNase H-mediated rapid release of this DNA from the donor while subsequent association with the acceptor was relatively slow.

Catalysis↗

Substitutions of Phe61 located in the vicinity of template 5'-overhang influence polymerase fidelity and nucleoside analog sensitivity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is an error-prone DNA polymerase. Structural determinants of its fidelity are incompletely understood. RT/template primer contacts have been shown to influence its fidelity and sensitivity to nucleoside analog inhibitors. The Phe(61) residue, located within the beta 3 sheet of the finger subdomain, is highly conserved among retroviral RTs. The crystal structure of a ternary complex revealed that Phe(61) contacts the first and second bases of the 5'-template overhang. To determine whether such contacts influence the dNTP-binding pocket, we performed a limited vertical scanning mutagenesis (Phe --> Ala, Leu, Trp, or Tyr) at Phe(61). The F61A mutant displayed the highest increase in fidelity, followed by the F61L and F61W variants, which had intermediate phenotypes. F61Y RT had a minimal effect. The increase in fidelity of the F61A mutant was corroborated by a 12-fold decrease in its forward mutation rate. The Phe(61) mutant RTs also displayed large reductions in sensitivity to 2',3'-dideoxythymidine triphosphate and 2',3'-dideoxy,2'3'-didehydrothymidine triphosphate. Mutants displaying the largest increase in fidelity (F61A and F61L) were also the most resistant. These results suggest that contacts between the finger subdomain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RT and the template 5'-overhang are important determinants of the geometry of the dNTP-binding pocket.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Increased long-term mitochondrial toxicity in combinations of nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Some nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) may cause depletion of mitochondrial (mt) DNA in liver by inhibiting polymerase-gamma. mtDNA depletion may contribute to lactic acidosis, steatohepatitis and liver failure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term mitochondrial toxicity of NRTI combinations. METHODS: The HepG2 human hepatoma cell line was cultivated in the presence of zalcitabine (ddC), didanosine (ddI), stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC), zidovudine (ZDV) and efavirenz at concentrations equivalent to steady-state peak plasma levels (C ), and also in one-third and 10 times C. The NRTI were added to the medium alone or in combination. Control cells were incubated without any NRTI or with efavirenz. Cell growth, lactate production, intracellular lipid droplets, mtDNA and the mtDNA-encoded respiratory chain subunit COX II were monitored over a period of up to 30 days. RESULTS: Time- and dose-dependent mtDNA depletion was observed with ddC > ddI > d4T and mtDNA depletion preceded or coincided with a decline in COX II expression, a decrease in cell growth, increased lactate production and increased intracellular lipids. 3TC and efavirenz did not affect any measurement. ZDV increased lactate moderately and cell growth was inhibited, despite normal mtDNA and COX II levels. The negative effects on some measurements were more pronounced in the 3TC-ZDV and ddC-d4T combinations, than in the single-NRTI incubations. The combination of ddI-d4T was not more toxic than ddI alone. Mitochondrial damage by ZDV, d4T, ddI, and ddC did not reach steady-state by day 25. Using a Southern blot technique, mtDNA deletions were never observed. CONCLUSION: The data indicate additive or synergistic long-term mitochondrial toxicity in some NRTI combinations.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

Detection of circulating prostate specific antigen expressing prostatic cells in the bone marrow of radical prostatectomy patients by sensitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

PURPOSE: The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for prostate specific antigen (PSA) expressing cells in the blood circulation has been under intense investigation since 1992. Although it has been suggested that this technology could be used as molecular staging for occult prostatic hematogenous metastases, we have been unable to confirm RT-PCR PSA positivity of peripheral blood to predict stage or recurrence in radical prostatectomy cases. We performed bone marrow RT-PCR PSA assay on a large cohort of radical prostatectomy cases and evaluate the use of this assay in improving prostate cancer staging and detecting early recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unilateral anterior iliac crest bone marrow aspirates were performed on 116 patients immediately before radical prostatectomy between February 1995 and September 1997. Radical prostatectomy specimens were processed as whole mounts. A sensitive nested RT-PCR assay with specific primers derived from the PSA sequence was used, which enabled us to detect PSA expressing LNCaP prostate cancer cells at the sensitivity of 1 cancer cell per 10 million lymphocytes (1/10(7)). A minimum of 3 RT-PCR PSA reactions were performed on all patients and at least 2 positive tests were required to define positivity. Patients were followed for PSA recurrence (mean followup 14.7 months). RESULTS: PSA expressing cells were detected in bone marrow of 51 of 116 patients (44.0%) when at least 2 of 3 RT-PCR PSA assays per patient were positive. A much higher rate of RT-PCR PSA positivity was noted (77/116 patients, 66.3%) when any RT-PCR PSA positivity was considered. In 10 randomly selected cases the RT-PCR product was confirmed as PSA by deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing. Of 51 bone marrow RT-PCR positive cases 25 (49%) had organ confined disease and 26 (51%) had nonorgan confined disease. Similarly, bone marrow RT-PCR PSA was not associated with age, race, grade, pretreatment PSA or prostatic acid phosphatase value, clinical stage or margin status. However, the 2-year disease-free survival was 96.6% in RT-PCR negative patients versus 77.5% in RT-PCR positive patients (p = 0.054), and bone marrow RT-PCR PSA was an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis including PSA, Gleason grade and pathological stage. CONCLUSIONS: Bone marrow RT-PCR PSA positivity in this study did not predict pathological stage, grade or margin positivity as determined from whole mount prostate cancer specimens. Furthermore, no relationship with age, grade or serum markers and bone marrow RT-PCR PSA positivity was noted. However, bone marrow RT-PCR PSA was associated with early disease recurrence. Further studies and longer followup are warranted to define the metastatic potential of the PSA expressing cells in the bone marrow of prostate cancer patients.

Aged↗

Antiviral resistance of biologic HIV-2 clones obtained from individuals on nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To study phenotypic and genotypic resistance of HIV-2 against nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI). METHODS: Biologic HIV-2 clones were generated from 3 patients before and after initiation of antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine (AZT) in patient RH2-7, AZT and didanosine (ddI) in patient PH2-1, and after addition of lamivudine (3TC) to AZT monotherapy in patient RH2-5. The sensitivity to NRTI of the virus clones, as defined by the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)), was determined in vitro. The predicted amino acid sequences of the reverse transcriptase proteins from these clones were determined. RESULTS: Comparing the sensitivity of the biologic HIV-2 clones obtained after start of therapy with those from antiviral naive patients, resistance had developed to AZT (patients RH2-7 and RH2-5) and 3TC (patient PH2-1 and RH2-5). No resistance to AZT was observed in the biologic clone from PH2-1 obtained after start of therapy. The resistant clones from RH2-5 and PH2-1, but not RH2-7, contained amino acid mutations at positions where HIV-1 has been shown to mutate after AZT and 3TC treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Phenotypic resistance of HIV-2 to nucleoside analogues, which developed in HIV-2-infected patients treated with NRTIs, was associated with genotypic changes. Some of the mutations at amino acid positions in the HIV-2 reverse transcriptase gene corresponded with those involved in HIV-1 resistance, although no conventional mutations associated with resistance to AZT were observed.

Adult↗

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase by 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside triphosphates: template dependence, and combination with phosphonoformate.

The 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside triphosphates (ddNTPs) are potent substrate analog inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase and have clinical utility in the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Several issues regarding the interaction of these compounds with HIV reverse transcriptase were examined. The potency of unsubstituted ddNTPs and the 3'-azido analog of dTTP (AZTTP) was influenced by the choice of template. Both compounds were more potent with the complementary homopolymer templates than with gapped duplex DNA, although the Km for the competing dNTP was similar with different templates. The Ki for AZTTP was greater than for the unsubstituted ddNTPs with either a homopolymer or a gapped duplex DNA template. HIV reverse transcriptase incorporated ddCMP and AZTMP into primed phage m13 DNA at sites specified for insertion of dCMP and dTMP, respectively. ddCTP was more efficiently utilized as a substrate than was AZTTP. Primer elongation due to base misincorporation was observed in the absence of one dNTP. The combined effect of ddNTPs and the pyrophosphate analog phosphonoformate (PFA) on HIV reverse transcriptase was also examined, and inhibition by PFA in combination with ddTTP or AZTTP was mutually exclusive.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Temperature-dependent equilibrium between the open and closed conformation of the p66 subunit of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase revealed by site-directed spin labelling.

X-ray crystallographic studies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase complexed with or without substrates or inhibitors show that the heterodimeric enzyme adopts distinct conformations that differ in the orientation of the so-called thumb subdomain in the large subunit. Site-directed spin labelling of mutated residue positions W24C and K287C is applied here to determine the distances between the fingers and thumb subdomains of liganded and unliganded RT in solution. The inter-spin distances of a DNA/DNA and a pseudoknot RNA complexed reverse transcriptase in solution was found to agree with the respective crystal data of the open and closed conformations. For the unliganded reverse transcriptase a temperature-dependent equilibrium between these two states was observed. The fraction of the closed conformation decreased from 95% at 313 K to 65% at 273 K. The spectral separation between the two structures was facilitated by the use of a perdeuterated ([15)N]nitroxide methane-thiosulfonate spin label.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of some heterodimers [NRTI]-glycyl-succinyl-[trovirdine analogue] of known HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Expected for their ability to inhibit HIV replication, four heterodimers with a Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI) and a Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NNRTI) bound by a linker arm were designed and synthesized. For the NRTIs, d4U, d2U, d4T and 5'-O-acetyl-5-(3-hydroxypropynyl)d2U were chosen. For the NNRTI, a Trovirdine Analogue (belonging to the phenethylthiazolylthiourea class) was chosen. The conjugation of the two different inhibitors (NRTI and NNRTI) was performed using the succinyl-glycine moiety as a spontaneously cleavable linker.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Quantitation of avian RNA tumor virus reverse transcriptase by radioimmunoassay.

A radioimmunoassay was developed that can detect and quantitate 3 ng or more of the avian RNA tumor virus reverse transcriptase. The assay detected no antigenic sites in Rous sarcoma virus alpha virions or in virions of a murine RNA tumor virus. About 70 molecules of reverse transcriptase were found per virion of avian myleloblastosis virus with this assay or with an assay based on antibody inhibition of enzymatic activity. The assay detected about 270 ng of enzyme per mg of cell protein in virus-producing cells; uninfected cells had much less antigenic material but contained some determinants able to displace radioactive antigen. No additional antigenic determinants on reverse transcriptase could be detected that were not found on the separated alpha subunit of the enzyme. Although sevenfold less sensitive than enzymatic activity as a measure of reverse transcriptase, the radioimmunoassay can detect antigen using small amounts of protein and in the presence of inhibtors.

Animals↗

Site-directed mutagenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase at amino acid position 138.

TSAO derivatives represent a class of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) that consistently select for the Glu138Lys resistance mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Seven RT mutants (i.e., Ala, Asp, Gln, Gly, Lys, Phe, and Tyr) were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant Glu138Asp, Glu138Lys, Glu138Gln, Glu138Ala, and Glu138Gly RTs retained marked catalytic activity. In contrast, the Glu138Phe and Glu138Tyr RT mutants showed poor RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity (30 and 4% of wild-type, respectively). TSAO derivatives lost their inhibitory activity against all mutant enzymes, except against the closely related Glu138Asp RT mutant that remained as sensitive to TSAOs as did wild-type RT. Other NNRTIs, including delavirdine, emivirine, and UC-781, and the NRTI ddGTP retained pronounced inhibitory activity against all mutant enzymes. When the amino acid mutations at position 138 of RT were introduced in recombinant virus clones, the sensitivity/resistance spectrum obtained toward the TSAOs and other NNRTIs was similar to those observed for the isolated recombinant mutant enzymes. The Glu138Lys RT mutant virus had the most marked resistance to TSAOs, followed by the Glu138Gln, Glu138Phe, Glu138Gly, Glu138Tyr, and Glu138Ala virus mutants. The Glu138Asp RT mutant virus kept full sensitivity to the TSAO derivatives. Mixtures of Glu138Lys RT mutant virus with the other virus clones mutated at the 138 position resulted in all cases, except for the Glu138Asp and Glu138Gly RT mutant viruses, in an outgrowth of the Glu138Lys RT mutant virus. Since the Glu138Lys RT proved most resistant to TSAO derivatives, was among the most catalytically efficient enzymes, and resulted in highly replication-competent virus, our data explain why the Glu138Lys RT mutant virus strains but not virus strains containing other amino acids at position 138 invariably emerge in cell cultures under TSAO drug pressure.

Alanine↗

Nevirapine-selected mutations Y181I/C of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase confer cross-resistance to stavudine.

Stavudine administration did not increase the frequency of Y181I/C reverse transcriptase (RT) mutations in non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-treated patients. However, recombinant Y181C HIV-1 showed reduced stavudine susceptibility with respect to both recombinant wild-type and K103N HIV-1 strains. In addition, recombinant Y181I RT enzyme showed reduced susceptibility to stavudine with respect to both wild-type and K103N RT. A previously unnoticed role of Y181I/C RT changes selected by nevirapine or other NNRTI in determining stavudine resistance is documented.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗

Effects of polyethylene glycol on reverse transcriptase and other polymerase activities.

Polyethylene glycol enhances reverse transcription, augmenting both the rate and duration of polymerization. The effective mean molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 6000 and the optimal concentration is 12% (w/w). Polyethylene glycol is effective on the reverse transcriptase reaction of all ten type B, C, and D viruses tested under a variety of exogenous, endogenous, and reconstitution assay systems, including the highly efficient conditions involving calf thymus DNA oligonucleotide primers. By three methods of synthesis, polyethylene glycol increased the yields of complementary [3H]DNA by a factor of 1.8--6.5. Polyethylene glycol does not alter the divalent cation requirements of the specificities of the enzyme. Complementary [3H]DNAs made in the presence of polyethylene glycol are indistinguishable in terms of size and sequence complementarity from those made in the absence of the polymer. The stimulatory effect was partly due to the ability of polyethylene glycol to stabilize reverse transcriptase. Preliminary tests indicate that polyethylene glycol also stimulates other nucleotide polymerases, such as the DNA-dependent DNA and RNA polymerases of Escherichia coli and the terminal transferase of calf thymus.

Escherichia coli↗

Adsorption, penetration, and uncoating of murine leukemia virus studied by using its reverse transcriptase.

A procedure using the virus-associated reverse transcriptase was developed for following the kinetics of adsorption, penetration, and uncoating of murine leukemia virus. Viral adsorption to cell membrane was determined by assaying this enzyme activity in isolated debris of mechanically disrupted cells after infection with murine leukemia virus in the presence of actinomycin D. At 37 degrees C, viral adsorption proceeded at a high initial rate, but after 5 min of incubation with the virus, it gradually slowed down. At 4 degrees C, viral adsorption was slower but proceeded at a linear rate. Intracellular virus was determined by centrifuging the cytoplasmic fraction of the disrupted cells at 105,000 x g for 45 min and assaying reverse-transcriptase activity in the high-speed pellet thus obtained. Sucrose gradient analysis of the enzyme activity recovered from the cytoplasm of infected cells indicated that this activity represented intact virus particles. No appreciable amount of such particles was recovered from the cytoplasm of cells infected at 4 degrees C. This indicates that the virions recovered from the cytoplasm of cells infected at 37 degrees C are indeed intracellular virus particles which penetrated into the cells and not just membrane-bound particles mechanically released to the cytoplasmic fraction during cell disruption. By this procedure intracellular virus was found to accumulate in the cytoplasm, reaching a maximal level within 20 min. The accumulated intracellular virus particles gradually disappeared from the cytoplasm, evidently due to their uncoating which was completed within 80 min.

Adsorption↗

Sodium pyrophosphate inhibition of RNA.DNA hybrid degradation by reverse transcriptase.

Sodium pyrophosphate inhibits synthesis of anticomplementary DNA during a reverse transcriptase (RNA-directed DNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7) catalyzed reaction. In the presence of pyrophosphate, the complementary DNA remains stably complexed to the RNA template. In the absence of pyrophosphate, the DNA. RNA hybrid template is degraded and anticomplementary DNA is synthesized. High concentrations of additives containing phosphodiester bonds appear to inhibit the ribonuclease H activity (hybrid nuclease, EC 3.1.4.34) of the reverse transcriptase, therby preventing formation of RNA primers necessary for the synthesis of anticomplementary DNA.

Diphosphates↗

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mutants resistant to nonnucleoside inhibitors of reverse transcriptase arise in tissue culture.

We have recently described a nonnucleoside compound that specifically inhibits the reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the causative agent of AIDS. This compound, nevirapine (BI-RG-587), interacts with highly conserved tyrosine residues at positions 181 and 188 in the reverse transcriptase to inhibit the recombinant enzyme and virus replication in cell culture with 50% inhibitory concentrations in the 40 nM range. HIV-1 variants resistant to nevirapine emerged with passage in cell culture in the presence of drug. This resistant phenotype was stable with continued passage in the absence of drug. These mutants had a substitution of cysteine for the tyrosine at position 181. Introduction of this mutation into the recombinant enzyme increased the inhibitory concentration of nevirapine 100-fold. Substitution of cysteine for tyrosine at residue 181 into the wild-type viral genome conferred a similar reduction in susceptibility to nevirapine. Mutants were also resistant to a tetrahydroimidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]benzodiazepin-2(1H)-one and -thione derivative and two 6-phenylthiouracil derivatives but retained their sensitivity to the other reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and foscarnet.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutation patterns of the reverse transcriptase genes in HIV-1 infected patients receiving combinations of nucleoside and non nucleoside inhibitors.

A genotyping assay was used to define human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase codons in plasma samples from 80 HIV-1 patients extensively treated with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase (zidovudine and lamivudine) and one non nucleoside reverse transcriptase (nevirapine) inhibitor. The frequencies of T215S/Y/F, M41L, D67N, L210W K70R, K219Q mutations, detectable in plasma samples, conferring resistance to zidovudine were 61.2, 56.2, 36.2, 31.5, 27.5 and 17.5%, respectively. Mutations (M184V or M184I) conferring resistance to lamivudine were detected in an extremely high percentage of patients (61%). Among mutations correlated to high (K103N, V106A, Y181C/I, Y188C/H/L, G190A/C/E/Q/S/T) or moderate (V108I, V118I) levels of nevirapine resistance, the predominant amino acid change was a substitution at 103 codon, present in 24 of 80 samples tested. Finally Q151M, the marker mutation able to confer resistance to all nucleoside analogues, was detected in seven patients with a viral load of between 1 x 10(4) and 9 x 10(4) HIV-1 RNA copies/ml. The relationship between the genotype and the viral load showed that the incidence of some specific mutations [M41L, T215Y (correlated to zidovudine resistance) and K103N (correlated to all NNRTIs drugs)] significantly (P=0.001) increased with higher viral load. Our results, albeit limited to a small cohort, showed a high frequency of mutations correlated to drugs in use, suggesting a need for therapeutic change in the near future and demonstrating that the development of genotyping tests helps to guide the therapeutic management of HIV-1 infected people. Our data highlight the dangers of selecting antiretroviral therapy without previous antiretroviral drug testing. Although the cost of these assays is a concern, prescribing inefficacious drugs could create serious problems for HIV-1 patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Emergence and genetic evolution of HIV-1 variants with mutations conferring resistance to multiple reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors.

The emergence of genotypic resistance in protease and reverse transcriptase (RT) gene regions was longitudinally evaluated in plasma samples from a group of 12 HIV-1-infected patients treated with different combination of antiretroviral therapies and selected on the basis of their clinical failure. Complex mutational patterns in the reverse transcriptase gene were observed. In particular, combinations of AZT (41L, 67N, 70R, 210W, and 219Q/E) and 3TC (184M) were seen in 10 patients. Two patients presented codon 151 multinucleoside analogue resistance (MNR). Additionally, seven patients harbored RT nonnucleoside analogue-related resistance substitutions (98G, 103N, and 181C). Multiple protease-selected mutations were found in each patient with an average of six substitutions per patient, with 10I/F/V, 63P, 71V, 82A/T, 84V, and 90M being the most prevalent substitutions. Overall, these results showed that for most patients virological failure was coupled with detectable genotypic resistance. Furthermore, most patients exhibited genotypic resistance to almost all available anti-HIV-1 drugs. The high viral loads found in most patients at the end of the study suggest that the replication of these multidrug resistant viruses are not severely compromised. Phylogenetic analysis of these pol sequences revealed that a specific HIV-1 genotype prone to develop multidrug resistance was not found.

Adult↗