HIV-1 Drug Resistance by Ultra-Deep Sequencing Following Short Course Zidovudine, Single-Dose Nevirapine, and Single-Dose Tenofovir with Emtricitabine for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2016 Dec 1;73(4):384-389. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001116.

Abstract

Antiretroviral drug resistance following pMTCT strategies remains a significant problem. With rapid advancements in next generation sequencing technologies, there is more focus on HIV drug-resistant variants of low frequency, or the so-called minority variants. In South Africa, AZT monotherapy for pMTCT, similar to World Health Organization option A, has been used since 2008. In 2010, a single dose of co-formulated TDF/FTC was included in the strategy for prevention of resistance conferred by single-dose nevirapine (sd NVP). The study was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, among pMTCT participants who received AZT monotherapy from 14 weeks of gestation, intrapartum AZT and sd NVP, and postpartum sd TDF/FTC. Twenty-six specimens collected at 6 weeks post-delivery were successfully sequenced using 454 ultra-deep sequencing. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance was detected in 17 of 26 (65%) patients, 2 (7%) had Thymidine analogue mutations, and 3 (11%) had K65R. Of the 17 patients with NNRTI resistance, 11 (65%) had high-level NNRTI resistance, whereas 6 (35%) had intermediate NNRTI resistance. The levels of NNRTI resistance are much higher than would be expected, given the inclusion of antepartum AZT and postpartum TDF/FTC. This high level of NNRTI resistance could impact future NNRTI-containing treatment for a large proportion of pMTCT-exposed women. The detection of Thymidine analogue mutations highlights the need to understand the clinical impact of these on AZT-containing antiretroviral treatment in women exposed to AZT monotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Viral*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Emtricitabine / administration & dosage
  • Emtricitabine / pharmacology
  • Emtricitabine / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Mutation
  • Nevirapine / pharmacology
  • Nevirapine / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
  • Tenofovir / administration & dosage
  • Tenofovir / pharmacology
  • Tenofovir / therapeutic use
  • Viral Load
  • Zidovudine / pharmacology
  • Zidovudine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Zidovudine
  • Nevirapine
  • Tenofovir
  • Emtricitabine