title: Are fusion inhibitors active against all HIV variants?
abstract: Genetic sequence alignment of the transmembrane region from HIV-1 group O and HIV-2 isolates was performed to examine their potential susceptibility to fusion inhibitors enfuvirtide (T-20) and T-1249. A high genetic diversity within the HRI and HR2 domains was found, which should compromise any antiviral effect of T-20 on HIV-2 and HIV-1 group O viruses. However, conserved sequences in the gp41 regions from HIV-1 group O involved in T-1249 susceptibility might result in a much broader antiviral effect of T-1249 on HIV-1 variants. In contrast, genetic diversity in those regions make unlikely any activity of these compounds on HIV-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poveda
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodes
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D000077560:Enfuvirtide; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C474741:peptide T1249; D000077560:Enfuvirtide