RESUMEN
Purpose: There has been an increase in the number of individuals administered antiretroviral therapy (ART) in India but treatment outcome is hampered by increasing development of drug resistance. Previous reports from India have shown M184V as the commonest mutation in treated individuals. However, there is no evidence for any protease mutations in these reports. This study was done to observe the common/unique mutational patterns observed in reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (Pr) genes of clade C HIV-1 strains from individuals showing treatment failure in India. Materials and Methods: The assay was done by sequencing the Pr and RT genes of the HIV-1 strains from 18 individuals failing ART. Analysis was carried out using Stanford HIV drug resistance database (SHDB). The sequences were also submitted to the calibrated population resistance tool of SHDB and Rega HIV-1 sub typing tool. Phylogenetic analysis and quality control were performed with Mega 4. Results: Among the 20 strains, 19 showed resistance to both nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), one strain to NNRTIs and five strains showed protease inhibitors (PI) resistance and 3-class resistance. The most common mutation conferring NRTI resistance was M184V (90%) while K103N (45%) was the most common mutation conferring NNRTI resistance. The M46I mutation was seen in 20% of the Pr sequences. Conclusion: Resistance testing to check the prevalence of drug resistance mutations that arise following failure of the first line regimen to establish guidelines for second line regimens in India is a must. Studies are needed to confirm if mutation patterns that arise among clade C following failure of ART are the same as for clade B strains.
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Objective: To evaluate the immunogenicity of HIV-1 clade C/B’ vaccine based on modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector in mice. Methods: Mice were inoculated with 3-dose HIV vaccine by intramuscular injection. Blood sample were collected every second week, and then the antibodies against HIV were detected. At week 6, mice were killed and cellular immune responses were examined by ELISPOT. Result: The number of spot forming cells in the 107 pfu/ml -dose group was more than those of 105 pfu/ml -dose and 106 pfu/ml -dose groups significantly. HIV specific antibodies emerged at week 2 and elevated rapidly at week 4 and week 6. The level of specific IgG in the 107 pfu/ml -dose group was more than those of 105 pfu/ml -dose and 106 pfu/ml -dose groups significantly. Conclusion: The ADMVA induces both humoral immunoresponse and cellular immune responses.
RESUMEN
Objective: To analyse the character of HIV1 Clade B Nef specific CD8~(+)T cell inter-clade cross-reactivity to clade B and C antigen in Chinese population. Methods: PBMC from 51 HIV-1 Clade B infected donors were separated by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation.HIV-1 Nef specific CD8~(+)T cell responses were analyzed by gamma interferon(IFN-?) enzyme-linked immunospot(ELISpot) assay using 54 synthetic peptides spanning all HIV-1B and C Nef proteins. Results:(82.9%)(29/35)of the individuals who had the Nef specific CD8~(+)T cell responses could recognize both Clade B and Clade C peptides.There was no significant difference between the two Clades on number of the recognized peptides and magnitude of the responses(P=0.529,P=0.754).70.4% Nef peptides either of Clade B or of Clade C could be recognized by HIV-1 B Nef specific CD8~(+)T cell.The sequence homology of peptides which could be cross-recognized was significantly higher than that of peptides which could be single-recognized. Conclusion: There are broadly cross-reactive T cells in HIV-1 Clade B infected individuals which can recognize both Clade B and Clade C Nef antigen.These cross-reactive T cells recognize peptides with higher inter-clade homology.