Data on HIV/AIDS detailed by researchers at University of Limpopo

   "The latter group was further sub-divided into 13 occult HBV (HBsAg-negative) and 7 overt HBV (HBsAg-positive) patients. HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and anti-HIV 1/2 were determined as part of routine diagnosis using Axsym assays (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL). Serum samples were PCR amplified with HBV reverse transcriptase (RT) primers, followed by direct sequencing across the tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate (YMDD) motif of the major catalytic region in the C domain of the HBV RT enzyme. HBV viral load was performed with Amplicor HBV Monitor((R)) test v2.0 (Roche Diagnostics, Penzberg, Germany). HBV lamivudine-resistant strains were detected in 3 of 15 mono-infected chronic hepatitis B patients and 10 of 20 HBV-HIV co-infected patients. To the best of our knowledge, this constitutes the first report of HBV lamivudine-resistant strains in therapy-naive HBV-HIV co-infected patients. The HBV viral loads for mono-infected and co-infected patients ranged from 3.32 x 10(2) to 3.82 x 10(7) and < 200 to 4.40 x 10(3) copies/ml, respectively," wrote S.G. Selabe and colleagues, University of Limpopo.

   The researchers concluded: "It remains to be seen whether such pre-existing antiviral mutations could result in widespread emergence of HBV resistant strains when lamivudine-containing highly active antiretroviral (ARV) treatment (HAART) regimens become widely applied in South Africa, as this is likely to have potential implications in the management of HBV-HIV co-infected patients."

   Selabe and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Medical Virology (Mutations associated with lamivudine-resistance in therapy-naive hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients with and without HIV co-infection: Implications for antiretroviral therapy in HBV and HIV co-infected south African patients. Journal of Medical Virology, 2007;79(11):1650-1654).

   For additional information, contact M.J. Mphahlele, University of Limpopo, Dept. of Virology, HIV & Hepatitis Research Unit, Medunsa Campus, POB 173, ZA-0204 Medunsa, South Africa.

   The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Medical Virology is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

   Keywords: South Africa, Medunsa, HIV/AIDS, AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Antigens, Antivirals, Drugs, Enzyme Research, Enzymes, Enzymology, Gastroenterology, HBV, HIV, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatology, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Lamivudine, Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, Pharmaceuticals, Proteins, Proteomics, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Therapy, Treatment, Viral, Virology, University of Limpopo.

   This article was prepared by Anti-Infectives Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Anti-Infectives Week via NewsRx.com.

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