title: Analysis of reverse transcriptase and protease genes of HIV for antiretroviral drug resistance in treatment-exposed Jamaican pediatrics.
abstract: This study reports on the drug resistance profiles for HIV-infected pediatrics in Jamaica who have been exposed to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The genetic diversity of HIV-1 found in these patients was also determined using phylogenetic analysis. The protease-reverse transcriptase (Pro-RT) region of the genome was amplified from 40 samples, sequenced, and analyzed for the identification of antiretroviral resistance-associated mutations (RAMs). All isolates belonged to subtype B and 39 possessed multiple RAMs in the reverse transcriptase genes that would compromise the efficacy of drugs being used to treat these patients. Four isolates possessed RAMs in the protease genes. The overall frequency of HIV drug resistance was 95%. The high frequency of drug resistance is supported by epidemiological data that revealed an equally high frequency of treatment failure (98%) among the study participants. The results of this study indicate the urgent need for greater access to drug resistance testing in Jamaica.
authors.affiliation: 1 Biotechnology Centre, University of the West Indies , Mona, Kingston, Jamaica .
authors.forename: Adriel P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ramkissoon
authors.affiliation: 1 Biotechnology Centre, University of the West Indies , Mona, Kingston, Jamaica .
authors.forename: Icolyn I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Amarakoon
authors.affiliation: 1 Biotechnology Centre, University of the West Indies , Mona, Kingston, Jamaica .
authors.forename: Cindy-Leigh C
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Child and Adolescent Health, University of the West Indies , Mona, Kingston, Jamaica .
authors.forename: Russell B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Lindsay M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Eyzaguirre
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Jean K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Blattner
authors.affiliation: 1 Biotechnology Centre, University of the West Indies , Mona, Kingston, Jamaica .
authors.forename: Marcia E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Roye
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D015751:Genes, pol; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007563:Jamaica; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase