Total HIV DNA decreases more pronouncedly in patients infected by CRF01_AE than subtype B and CRF07_BC after 18 months of antiretroviral therapy

ABSTRACT Whether the amount of HIV DNA was associated with the various subtype of HIV‐1 after antiretroviral therapy (ART) has not been reported. In the present study, the amount of HIV DNA and RNA as well as the CD4+T counts in blood and semen prior to and after 18 months of ART were compared in 48 patients infected by CRF01_AE, subtype B or CRF07_BC of HIV‐1. All the patients achieved successful viral RNA suppressions and CD4 cell count recovery. The total HIV DNA levels were similar before ART, however the lowest level of HIV DNA was observed in patients with CRF01_AE after ART. According to co‐receptor usage prediction by Geno2Pheno and PSSM in combination, more than 35.6% clones for CRF01_AE were predicted as CXCR4‐using before ART, while less than 6% of those for subtype B and CRF07_BC were predicted as CXCR4‐using. After 18 months of ART, no CXCR4‐using clones were predicted in any of the subtypes. Despite higher HIV RNA and lowest CD4+T levels in CRF01_AE before therapy, no significant differences (P > 0.05) for viral RNA or CD4 cell counts were observed between the subtypes after 18 months of ART. Thus, more efficiency to the 18 months of antiretroviral therapy was showed in patients with CRF01_AE. Considering successful ART can dramatically reduce the viral load both in the blood and semen, risks of sexual transmission of HIV were reduced, which benefits to prevention of rapid spreading of HIV among MSM in the region.
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research