2018/01/29 by Zhenzhen Lu, Yanmei Jiao, Jianjun Li +5
Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #HIV Research and Treatment #HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions #HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/1348-0421.12578
openalex publication_date 2018/01/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Whether the amount of HIV DNA is associated with the subtype of HIV-1 after antiretroviral therapy (ART) has not been reported. In the present study, the amount of HIV DNA and RNA and CD4+T counts in blood and semen prior to and after 18 months of ART were compared in 48 patients infected by CRF01AE, subtype B or CRF07BC of HIV-1. Viral RNA was suppressed and CD4 cell count recovery achieved in all patients. The level of HIV DNA were similar before ART; however, patients with CRF01AE had less HIV DNA after ART than those with subtype B and CRF07BC infection. According to prediction of co-receptor usage by Geno2Pheno and PSSM in combination, more than 35.6% of clones for CRF01AE were predicted as CXCR4-using before ART, whereas less than 6% of those for subtype B and CRF07BC were predicted as CXCR4-using. After 18 months of ART, no CXCR4-using clones were predicted in any of the subtypes. Despite more HIV RNA and fewer CD4 + T cells in patients with CRF01AE before therapy, no significant differences (P > 0.05) in viral RNA or CD4 cell counts were observed between the subtypes after 18 months of ART. Thus, 18 months of antiretroviral therapy was more efficient in patients with CRF01AE. Considering that successful ART dramatically reduces the viral load in both blood and semen, risks of sexual transmission of HIV were reduced, contributing to prevention of rapid spread of HIV among men who have sex with men in the region.