Spread of mutations of resistance and HIV-1 subtypes as an indicator of dynamics of HIV epidemic in the Volga Federal District in 2016-2018

Abstract

We studied mutations of HIV resistance to antiretroviral drugs during the period of widely use of antiretroviral therapy and the characteristics of the circulation of virus subtypes in the subjects of the Volga Federal District (VFD) from 2016 to 2018 on the plasma samples of HIV-infected patients. Genotyping of resistance mutations to antiretroviral drugs and statistical analysis were carried out. The most common mutations determining the resistance in the reverse transcriptase gene, the most common and specific mutations were identified. An analysis of the prevalence level of mutations in the virus resistance to different groups of antiretroviral drugs allows us to develop approaches to prevent the further occurrence of resistant strains of HIV and minimize their negative impact on the patient's body. With the development of the epidemic, there is an increasing diversity in the landscape of HIV-1 subtypes circulating on the territory of the Volga Federal District. Point mutation patterns associated with antiretroviral therapy failure in different subtypes vary.