title: Impact of clade diversity on HIV-1 virulence, antiretroviral drug sensitivity and drug resistance.
abstract: HIV-1 infection is characterized by genetic diversity wherein distinct viral subtypes (clades A, B, C, D, E, F, G, K and O) are expanding in different geographical regions. This article deals with the topic of HIV-1 subtype diversity in the context of sensitivity to antiretroviral drugs, drug resistance and viral fitness. Increasing evidence suggests that all clades of HIV probably display similar sensitivity to antiviral drugs. However, viruses from some subtypes and/or geographical regions may have a greater propensity to develop resistance against certain drugs than do other viral variants. In addition, differences in regard to replication capacity or fitness may exist among various HIV subtypes and differences in this regard may potentially become magnified under conditions of drug resistance. Immunological pressures may also play an important role in the evolution of viral subtypes that may impact on ultimate drug resistance profiles.
authors.affiliation: McGill University AIDS Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Cote Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T 1E2.
authors.forename: Shalom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spira
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wainberg
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Loemba
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Bluma G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000939:Epitopes