Use of a high resolution melting assay to analyze HIV diversity in HIV-infected Ugandan children.
BACKGROUND
We used a novel high resolution melting (HRM) diversity assay to analyze HIV diversity in Ugandan children (age 0.6-12.4 years) who were enrolled in an observational study of antiretroviral treatment (ART). Children were maintained on ART if they were clinically and immunologically stable.


METHODS
HIV diversity was measured before ART (baseline) in 76 children and after 48 or 96 weeks of ART in 14 children who were not virally suppressed. HIV diversity (expressed as HRM scores) was measured in 6 regions of the HIV genome (2 in gag, 1 in pol, 3 in env).


RESULTS
Higher baseline HRM scores were significantly associated with older age (≥2 years, P ≤ 0.001 for all 6 regions). HRM scores from different regions were weakly correlated. Higher baseline HRM scores in 3 regions (1 in gag, 2 in env) were associated with ART failure. HIV diversity was lower in 4 regions (2 in gag, 1 in pol, 1 in env) after 48-96 weeks of nonsuppressive ART compared with baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher levels of HIV diversity were observed in older children before ART, and higher levels of diversity in some regions of the HIV genome were associated with ART failure. Prolonged exposure to nonsuppressive ART was associated with a significant decrease in viral diversity in selected regions of the HIV genome.
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Maria M
MM
James
Lei
L
Wang
Deborah
D
Donnell
Matthew M
MM
Cousins
Linda
L
Barlow-Mosha
Jessica M
JM
Fogel
William I
WI
Towler
Allison L
AL
Agwu
Danstan
D
Bagenda
Micheal
M
Mubiru
Philippa
P
Musoke
Susan H
SH
Eshleman
D000375:Aging; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006678:HIV / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents