Title: Drug resistance mutations from whole blood proviral DNA among patients on antiretroviral drugs in Zimbabwe
Authors: Chimukangara B, Gwanzura G, Mitchell R, Katzenstein D, Masimirembwa C .
Journal: Curr HIV Res,12(5):309-16 (2014)
INTRODUCTION: There are more than 500 000 HIV-infected people on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Zimbabwe with very limited laboratory monitoring. To ensure effective treatment and prevent transmission of drug resistance, affordable treatment monitoring is needed to guide individual treatment.
METHODS: 125 whole blood samples from patients on first-line ART were investigated for drug resistance mutations using an in-house genotypic testing method. Patients had been on HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors only, with some having been on both HIV and TB treatment. DNA was extracted from whole blood; amplicons were generated by nested PCR and sequenced. Drug resistance mutations were determined using the Stanford HIV drug resistance database. Exact statistics were used to investigate relationships between drug resistance and predisposing factors.
RESULTS: From 125 samples, 108 were successfully analyzed for drug resistance mutations. 11 of the 108 sequences had drug resistance mutations; predominantly M184V and Y181C. For a 100-cell increase in CD4 count, the odds of being resistant were 61% lower than those with the baseline CD4 count (p = 0.04, CI: 0.34-0.98). There was no association between concurrent HIV/TB treatment and drug resistance (p = 0.41).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Although plasma samples are recommended for genotypic testing, the cost of analyzing plasma RNA makes it less feasible in resource limited settings. Lower cost DNA drug resistance testing from whole blood samples was assessed as a treatment-monitoring tool among patients followed by CD4 and clinical monitoring only. The infrequent detection of resistance and higher CD4 is consistent with effective first-line treatment. Further investigation of proviral DNA as a tool to identify drug resistance mutations is warranted.
Citation: Chimukangara B, Gwanzura G, Mitchell R, Katzenstein D, Masimirembwa C . Drug resistance mutations from whole blood proviral DNA among patients on antiretroviral drugs in Zimbabwe Curr HIV Res,12(5):309-16 (2014).
We have designed a tool to track HIV infection rates cheaply and accurately - KRISP News - 2017-12-01
By Sikhulile Moyo, 1 December 2017. The conversation, press coverage of our KRISP paper Moyo et al. (PLoS One HIV 2016). A critical part of reaching zero new HIV infections by 2030 as the 'UN's Sustainable Development Goal aims to do' is to be able to track accurately when specific high risks groups become infected with the virus.
KRISP has been created by the coordinated effort of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the South African Medical Research Countil (SAMRC).
Location: K-RITH Tower Building
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, UKZN
719 Umbilo Road, Durban, South Africa.
Director: Prof. Tulio de Oliveira