Impact of the HIV-1 env Genetic Context outside HR1–HR2 on Resistance to the Fusion Inhibitor Enfuvirtide and Viral Infectivity in Clinical Isolates

2011

Impact of HIV-1 env Genetic Context on Resistance to Enfuvirtide

Sample size: 5 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Baatz Franky, Nijhuis Monique, Lemaire Morgane, Riedijk Martiene, Wensing Annemarie M. J., Servais Jean-Yves, van Ham Petra M., Hoepelman Andy I. M., Koopmans Peter P., Sprenger Herman G., Devaux Carole, Schmit Jean-Claude, Perez Bercoff Danielle

Primary Institution: Laboratory of Retrovirology, CRP-Santé, Luxembourg

Hypothesis

The study investigates the role of the HIV-1 env genetic context in resistance to the fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide and its effect on viral infectivity.

Conclusion

The HR1–HR2 region is the main contributor to resistance against enfuvirtide, while the surrounding env genetic context modulates susceptibility and infectivity.

Supporting Evidence

Resistance mutations to enfuvirtide mainly occur within the HR1 region.
The env genetic context can influence the level of enfuvirtide resistance.
X4 viruses showed higher resistance levels compared to R5 viruses.
Infectivity of full Env recombinant viruses increased under prolonged drug pressure.

Takeaway

This study looks at how changes in the HIV virus can make it resistant to a medicine called enfuvirtide, and how these changes also affect how well the virus can infect cells.

Methodology

The study compared enfuvirtide susceptibility and infectivity of recombinant viral pairs from longitudinal env clones of patients failing enfuvirtide therapy.