Multiple mutations in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase confer high-level resistance to zidovudine (AZT).

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) isolates with reduced sensitivity to zidovudine (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, AZT) from individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex were studied to determine the genetic basis of their resistance. Most were sequential isolates obtained at the initiation of and during therapy. Comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of the reverse transcriptase (RT) coding region from five pairs of sensitive and resistant isolates identified three predicted amino acid substitutions common to all the resistant strains (Asp67----Asn, Lys70----Arg, Thr215----Phe or Tyr) plus a fourth in three isolates (Lys219----Gln). Partially resistant isolates had combinations of these four changes. An infectious molecular clone constructed with these four mutations in RT yielded highly resistant HIV after transfection of T cells. The reproducible nature of these mutations should make it possible to develop rapid assays to predict zidovudine resistance by performing polymerase chain reaction amplification of nucleic acid from peripheral blood lymphocytes, thereby circumventing current lengthy HIV isolation and sensitivity testing.

Potential mechanism for sustained antiretroviral efficacy of AZT-3TC combination therapy.

Combinations of antiretroviral drugs that prevent or delay the appearance of drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) mutants are urgently required. Mutants resistant to 3'-azidothymidine (AZT, zidovudine) became phenotypically sensitive in vitro by mutation of residue 184 of viral reverse transcriptase to valine, which also induced resistance to (-)2'-deoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC). Furthermore, AZT-3TC coresistance was not observed during extensive in vitro selection with both drugs. In vivo AZT-3TC combination therapy resulted in a markedly greater decreased in serum HIV-1 RNA concentrations than treatment with AZT alone, even though valine-184 mutants rapidly emerged. Most samples assessed from the combination group remained AZT sensitive at 24 weeks of therapy, consistent with in vitro mutation studies.

Resistance to ddI and sensitivity to AZT induced by a mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Serial human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) isolates were obtained from five individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who changed therapy to 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) after at least 12 months of treatment with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (zidovudine, AZT). The in vitro sensitivity to ddI decreased during the 12 months following ddI initiation, whereas AZT sensitivity increased. Analysis of the reverse transcriptase coding region revealed a mutation associated with reduced sensitivity to ddI. When this mutation was present in the same genome as a mutation known to confer AZT resistance, the isolates showed increased sensitivity to AZT. Analysis of HIV-1 variants confirmed that the ddI resistance mutation alone conferred ddI and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine resistance, and suppressed the effect of the AZT resistance mutation. The use of combination therapy for HIV-1 disease may prevent drug-resistant isolates from emerging.

Histopathologic variation between liver lobes in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Biopsy of the liver evaluates a small portion of tissue, with inferences made to the entire organ. The method and number of biopsies obtained are tempered by consideration of the risks and benefits. Recommendations often include biopsy of more than one liver lobe, although the consistency of histopathology among lobes in dogs is unknown. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To describe the distribution of histopathologic abnormalities between liver lobes. We hypothesized that discordant results would be evenly distributed among all liver lobes. ANIMALS: Seventy dogs undergoing necropsy. METHODS: Prospective study. Liver samples were obtained from all lobes. A primary diagnosis was assigned to each liver sample based on the predominant histopathologic abnormality. RESULTS: In this population of dogs, biopsy of at least 2 liver lobes identified the predominant histologic abnormality in 98.6% of the cases. Ten (14%) of the dogs had ≤ 3 lobes in agreement and could not be assigned a predominant diagnosis. The same diagnosis was present in 6/6 lobes in 39 (56.5%) dogs, 5/6 lobes in 10 (14.5%) dogs, 4/6 lobes in 10 (14.5%) dogs, 3/6 lobes in 7 (10.1%) dogs, and 2/6 in 3 (4.3%) dogs. The number of discordant results did not differ between the liver lobes. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The likelihood of obtaining a sample that is reflective of the predominant histologic abnormality in the liver is increased when multiple liver lobes are biopsied.

A comparison of liver sampling techniques in dogs.

BACKGROUND: The liver sampling technique in dogs that consistently provides samples adequate for accurate histopathologic interpretation is not known. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To compare histopathologic results of liver samples obtained by punch, cup, and 14 gauge needle to large wedge samples collected at necropsy. ANIMALS: Seventy dogs undergoing necropsy. METHODS: Prospective study. Liver specimens were obtained from the left lateral liver lobe with an 8 mm punch, a 5 mm cup, and a 14 gauge needle. After sample acquisition, two larger tissue samples were collected near the center of the left lateral lobe to be used as a histologic standard for comparison. Histopathologic features and numbers of portal triads in each sample were recorded. RESULTS: The mean number of portal triads obtained by each sampling method were 2.9 in needle samples, 3.4 in cup samples, 12 in punch samples, and 30.7 in the necropsy samples. The diagnoses in 66% of needle samples, 60% of cup samples, and 69% of punch samples were in agreement with the necropsy samples, and these proportions were not significantly different from each other. The corresponding kappa coefficients were 0.59 for needle biopsies, 0.52 for cup biopsies, and 0.62 for punch biopsies. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The histopathologic interpretation of a liver sample in the dog is unlikely to vary if the liver biopsy specimen contains at least 3-12 portal triads. However, in comparison large necropsy samples, the accuracy of all tested methods was relatively low.

Zidovudine resistance predicted by direct detection of mutations in DNA from HIV-infected lymphocytes.

Zidovudine-resistant strains of HIV have recently been isolated from individuals during prolonged treatment. Analysis of the HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) gene from clinical isolates revealed that resistance was due to multiple nucleotide changes conferring specific amino acid substitutions in this enzyme. In order to correlate the degree of resistance with these amino acid changes, we constructed a series of infectious HIV variants with specific combinations of mutations in the RT gene and assessed their sensitivity to zidovudine. The reproducible nature of the mutations seen in clinical isolates has enabled the polymerase chain reaction to be used to identify lesions associated with resistance. This procedure was validated by analysis of sensitive and resistant clinical isolates with RT genes of known DNA sequence. Using a 'double' amplification procedure, zidovudine sensitivity was assessed by direct detection of specific mutations in DNA from peripheral-blood lymphocyte samples. This should make it possible to test large numbers of individuals receiving zidovudine therapy, with the aim of establishing the clinical significance of the resistant isolates.

Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of clinical HIV-1 isolates reveals extensive protease inhibitor cross-resistance: a survey of over 6000 samples.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in HIV-1 the extent of phenotypic and genotypic antiretroviral drug resistance and cross-resistance towards the protease inhibitors (PIs) saquinavir, ritonavir, indinavir and nelfinavir among a set of patient samples originating from European and US routine clinical practice and submitted for phenotypic drug resistance testing and/or genotypic analysis. The mutational pattern(s) underlying both resistance and cross-resistance to PIs was investigated. METHOD: Over 6000 patient isolates with plasma viral load greater than 1000 copies/ml plasma were analysed. Phenotypic resistance was evaluated by a recombinant virus assay. Phenotypic resistance is expressed as the fold-increase of the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of a compound for a patient-derived recombinant virus isolate compared with that for a wild-type laboratory virus. Genotypic analysis is reported as amino acid changes at positions in the HIV-1 protease compared to a wild-type reference. RESULTS: Phenotypic resistance to any single PI was observed in 17 to 25% of the clinical isolates investigated. Phenotypic cross-resistance among PIs (> 10-fold increase in IC50 value) was detected in 59 to 80% of the samples resistant (> 10-fold increase in IC50 value) to at least one PI. The prevalent mutations in PI-resistant isolates involved substitutions at codons 10, 36, 46, 54, 71, 77, 82 and 90. The most frequent mutational pattern in samples with PI cross-resistance involved combined substitutions at positions 10 and 90, extended with substitutions at positions 54, 71, 77, 82 or 84. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive use of first-generation PIs leads to the emergence of HIV-1 isolates possessing cross-resistance to all members of this class. Identification of particular mutational profiles among these isolates may assist in the design of new generation inhibitors with specific activity against protease-mutant HIV strains.

The M184V mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) conferring lamivudine resistance does not result in broad cross-resistance to nucleoside analogue RT inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and magnitude of M184V-mediated changes in susceptibility to zalcitabine, didanosine, stavudine and abacavir (1592U89 succinate) in a cohort of lamivudine-treated patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 255 samples from patients treated with lamivudine and zidovudine with or without other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) were analysed for susceptibility to zidovudine, lamivudine, zalcitabine, didanosine and stavudine using a recombinant virus assay. Seventy-three samples originated from patients exposed to zidovudine and lamivudine only. A subset of 27 samples was investigated for cross-resistance to abacavir. Resistance was defined as a change in median inhibitory concentration more than fivefold compared with wild-type (high-level resistance, > 10-fold). A genotypic analysis of plasma-derived reverse transcriptase coding regions was carried out in samples with cross-resistance. RESULTS: The majority of samples displayed wild-type or greater than wild-type sensitivity to zalcitabine, didanosine and stavudine: resistance was seen in 17.2, 9 and 6.3% of the total sample population, respectively. Of these, 1.2, 2.7 and 2.4%, respectively, showed high-level resistance. The prevalence of resistance to a particular NRTI was lower in samples from patients not pretreated with that NRTI and in samples from patients exposed to zidovudine-lamivudine only. Cross-resistance was more prevalent in samples with high ZDV resistance. There was no obvious correlation between cross-resistance and genotype; all but two samples were mutant at codon 184. There were no consistent changes at positions associated with zidovudine resistance. The majority of samples from a subset (n=27) were four- to eightfold less sensitive to abacavir. There were no other genotypic changes in addition to M184V known to be associated with abacavir resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Cross-resistance was not commonly observed in this lamivudine-treated cohort. M184V per se is not expected to compromise subsequent treatment with NRTI such as didanosine-stavudine or combinations containing abacavir.

Mutational analysis of two conserved sequence motifs in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Two conserved sequence motifs, occurring in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase at residues 110-116 and 183-190, have been studied using site-directed mutagenesis of the cloned gene. In particular, aspartates at positions 185 and 186 have each been mutated to either asparagine or glutamate. The resulting mutant proteins were catalytically inactive but still able to bind the template-primer complex, poly rA-oligo dT. Other mutations in these regions resulted in reduced reverse trascriptase activity but the mutation of tyrosine-183 to serine caused a significant increase in the Km for dTTP and the Ki for inhibition by 3'-azidothymidine-triphosphate, 2',3'-dideoxythymidine-triphosphate and phosphonoformic acid.

A comparison of hepatic sonographic features and histopathologic diagnosis in canine liver disease: 138 cases.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound examination is commonly used in the diagnostic evaluation of liver disease in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine if hepatic sonographic features were predictive of findings on liver histopathology. We hypothesized that there would be a relationship between sonographic features and the category of liver disease based on histologic assessment. ANIMALS: One hundred and thirty-eight dogs in which the liver was evaluated by both abdominal ultrasound examination and histopathologic examination. Twenty-five dogs were included in each of the following categories based on histopathology: normal, degenerative, vascular, inflammatory, and neoplasia. Thirteen dogs had nodular regeneration. METHODS: Retrospective study. Medical records of dogs from 2005 to 2010 were searched for cases in which the liver was evaluated by abdominal ultrasound examination as well as by histopathology. After independent evaluation of ultrasound images, the recorded sonographic features were analyzed to identify abnormalities associated with each histopathologic diagnosis or degree of fibrosis. RESULTS: Sixty-four percent of sonographically unremarkable livers had histologic abnormalities. Both microhepatia and the identification of abnormal vasculature were significantly associated with a histopathologic diagnosis of vascular disease. Hepatic masses were significantly associated with a diagnosis of neoplasia. Dilated common bile duct and thickened gall bladder wall were significantly associated with hepatitis. There were no sonographic findings consistently present with hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Although some ultrasonographic findings, including masses, microhepatia, anomalous veins, and biliary changes, are associated with specific histopathologic abnormalities, sonographic findings are inconsistently detected in many disorders. Overall, hepatic ultrasonographic abnormalities have substantial limitations in predicting the underlying disease.

Zidovudine-resistant human immunodeficiency virus selected by passage in cell culture.

Variants of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with reduced sensitivity to zidovudine (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine) have been selected by passage of virus in cell culture in the presence of drug. Wild-type, sensitive virus became partially resistant to zidovudine by passage 12 (50% inhibitory dose values measured in HeLa CD4+ cells increased from 0.014 to 0.2 microM), and genetic analysis using the polymerase chain reaction revealed that mutations in the reverse transcriptase coding region identical to those seen in clinical isolates from treated individuals had occurred. The order of appearance of these resistance mutations in passaged virus was also similar to that in clinical isolates. The partially resistant strain, HIVRTMC/F, became highly zidovudine resistant by passage 12 (50% inhibitory dose values increased from 0.4 to 2.5 microM during passages 7 to 11). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the reverse transcriptase from this variant revealed a novel amino acid substitution (Lys----Glu) at codon 219. A different substitution at this codon (Lys----Gln) had been seen previously in clinical isolates. When this mutation was created in HIVRTMC/F by site-directed mutagenesis, the resulting partially resistant virus became highly resistant, thus confirming the significance of this change. In view of the possibility that this mutation might occur in HIV isolates during treatment of patients, we adapted our selective polymerase chain reaction procedure to enable screening for this change in clinical samples. The virus passage procedure described here may be useful for gaining further insight into the mutational events occurring during the development of resistance to zidovudine and other HIV inhibitors.

Infectious potential of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase mutants with altered inhibitor sensitivity.

There is considerable interest in the potential of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to develop drug resistance, especially as 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (Retrovir) is now in widespread clinical use to treat people with AIDS and AIDS-related complex (ARC). To address this possibility, mutations in the HIV reverse transcriptase [deoxynucleoside-triphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase (RNA-directed), EC 2.7.7.49] gene have been introduced by site-directed mutagenesis of cloned constructs in Escherichia coli. Analysis of the recombinant mutant reverse transcriptase from a number of these constructs revealed enzymes that maintained enzyme activity but had a reduced ability to recognize inhibitors such as azidothymidine triphosphate. To assess the infectivity of these mutants, several constructs of proviral HIV clones with mutant reverse transcriptase genes have been made and used to transfect T cells. All five mutants tested have lower infectious potential, suggesting considerable levels of reverse transcriptase activity are required for efficient virus replication. Viable virus recovered from two clones showed decreased sensitivity to the antiviral compound phosphonoformate, thus demonstrating the potential for drug-resistant HIV to replicate. However, although the reverse transcriptase from these mutant viruses showed decreased sensitivity to azidothymidine triphosphate, paradoxically these viruses were hypersensitive to azidothymidine when tested in culture.

Convergent combination therapy can select viable multidrug-resistant HIV-1 in vitro.

The reverse transcriptase enzyme of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the target for many inhibitors. Amino-acid substitutions in functional regions of the enzyme that abolish reverse transcriptase activity also prevent HIV-1 replication. But selection pressure by drugs such as AZT (3'-azido-3'deoxythymidine, zidovudine), ddI (2',3'-dideoxyinosine) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) causes outgrowth of resistant variants due to non-lethal mutations in the enzyme. Reports of synergy and lack of cross-resistance between reverse transcriptase inhibitors (refs 7, 9, 10, 12-14, 17, 18, 20, 21), plus the reversal of AZT resistance by mutations induced by ddI and NNRTIs, have indicated that specific drug combinations directed at reverse transcriptase might curtail resistance. Chow et al. extended this concept in a report that specific multiple combinations of resistance mutations in the reverse transcriptase can significantly impair HIV-1 replication. They concluded that evolutionary limitations may exist to prevent the emergence of multidrug resistance to inhibitors of reverse transcriptase. We report here that HIV-1 co-resistant to AZT, ddI and the NNRTI nevirapine can be readily selected in cell culture starting with dual AZT- and ddI-resistant virus. We found no evidence for 'replication incompatible' combinations of resistance mutations, although a mutation (M184-->V) conferring oxathiolane-cytosine nucleoside resistance in reverse transcriptase completely suppressed AZT resistance in a triple-resistant background. These in vitro observations suggest that triple drug combination therapy might ultimately result in co-resistant HIV-1, although they do not preclude assessment of such combinations for treatment of HIV-1 disease.

Related functional domains in virus DNA polymerases.

Analysis of the lesions in several drug-resistant DNA polymerase mutants of herpes simplex virus along with comparative analysis of the published polymerase sequences of other human herpesviruses has shown that most lesions (five out of six) are substitutions at amino acid residues conserved in all four polymerases. Furthermore, the majority of lesions are in regions of the polypeptide where there are marked clusterings of conserved residues. On the basis of these data we have identified several domains within the polypeptide which we believe may have important functional roles in the action of the enzyme. The apparent restriction in the potential sites of lesions conferring drug resistance may explain the difficulty in selecting such mutants using acyclovir (ACV) in culture and their failure to emerge so far during ACV therapy. Extension of the comparative analysis to the polymerases of adenovirus type 2, vaccinia virus and phage phi 29 suggests that these enzymes also possess domains homologous to those most conserved in the herpes polymerases (regions I-III) and that these domains have a similar linear spatial distribution on the polypeptides. The results are discussed in relation to the known function of the DNA polymerases.

Rapid in vitro selection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 resistant to 3'-thiacytidine inhibitors due to a mutation in the YMDD region of reverse transcriptase.

Resistant variants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have been selected by limited passage in MT4 cells of both wild-type and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT, zidovudine)-resistant strains with the nucleoside analogues (-)-2'-deoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC) and (-)-2'-deoxy-5-fluoro-3'-thiacytidine (FTC). Virus variants selected independently were crossresistant to both inhibitors. This rapid in vitro selection of resistant virus has not previously been seen with nucleoside analogues but is reminiscent of that observed with the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. However, passage of wild-type virus with a combination of AZT and FTC appreciably delayed emergence of FTC-resistant virus. DNA sequence analysis of the reverse transcriptase coding region from FTC-resistant virus revealed changes at codon 184 in the highly conserved Tyr, Met, Asp, Asp (YMDD) region. When the mutation Met184-->Val was introduced into the infectious clone HXB2, this change alone accounted for the resistance (> 1000-fold) seen with both 3TC and FTC, and for a 5- to 15-fold reduction in sensitivity to their (+) enantiomers. It had no effect on susceptibility to AZT or nevirapine and minimal effect on susceptibility to 2',3'-dideoxyinosine and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine. To determine the influence of this mutation in a background of mutations conferring resistance to AZT and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, a series of HIV-1 variants were created by site-directed mutagenesis. All mutants with Met184-->Val were cross-resistant to 3TC and FTC. The Met184-->Val mutation did not influence nevirapine resistance, but resistance to AZT was suppressed. Similar suppression of AZT resistance was seen with Tyr181-->Cys. Interestingly, when both Met184-->Val and Tyr181-->Cys substitutions were present, highly resistant virus reverted to complete AZT sensitivity. Assessment of the interactive effects of multiple drug-resistance mutations may help to establish a rationale for using these drugs in the future therapy of HIV disease.

Quantitative detection of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations by automated DNA sequencing.

A comparison has been made between manual and automated DNA sequencing procedures to evaluate the ability to distinguish mixtures of wild-type and mutant sequences. Quantitative detection of such mixtures of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations was best achieved using an automated system that uses fluorescent-labelled sequencing primers. This procedure has a wide range of applications in clinical research, including heterozygote analysis. Software that automatically reports mixed-base positions is presented.

A novel polymorphism at codon 333 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase can facilitate dual resistance to zidovudine and L-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine.

Recent clinical trials examining 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT, zidovudine, or Retrovir) combined with L-2', 3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC or lamivudine) have shown that combination therapy with these nucleoside analogs affords significant virological and clinical benefits. The addition of 3TC to AZT delays AZT resistance in therapy-naive patients and can restore viral AZT susceptibility in patients who previously received AZT alone. In some AZT-experienced patients, the virological response to AZT-3TC therapy is not sustained and virus resistant to both drugs can be identified. To gain insight into the possible mechanism of dual resistance, we studied a recently described variant resistant to both AZT and 3TC and obtained by simultaneous passage of an AZT-resistant clinical isolate in cell culture with AZT and 3TC. Genetic mapping and site-directed mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that a polymorphism at codon 333 (Gly to Glu) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was critical in facilitating dual resistance in a complex background of AZT and 3TC resistance mutations. To assess the potential clinical relevance of RT codon 333 changes, we studied dually resistant viruses from patients taking AZT and 3TC. Genetic mapping of RT molecular clones derived from patients' plasma samples demonstrated that in some cases polymorphism at codon 333 was responsible for facilitating dual resistance.

Significance of amino acid variation at human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase residue 210 for zidovudine susceptibility.

Amino acid variation at reverse transcriptase (RT) codon 210 (generally Leu-210 to Trp [L210W], TTG-->TGG) is occasionally detected after the initiation of azidothymidine (AZT) therapy. The impact of this variation on AZT resistance and viral replication was addressed by four different approaches. The frequency and genetic background of the L210W mutation in vivo were assessed by analyzing sera of AZT-naive and AZT-experienced patients by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. The degree of AZT resistance (50% infective concentration [IC50]) of recombinant viruses constructed by using the RT of 21 clinical isolates was stratified by the presence or absence of the 210 mutation. The AZT IC50S of a panel of mutant viruses (with or without W-210) constructed by site-directed mutagenesis in an HXB2 background were assayed by using a HeLa CD4 plaque reduction assay. Finally, the effect of the 210 mutation on viral replication was assessed by replication competition of an AZT-resistant virus, RTMN (L-41/Y-215), and RTMN with the W-210 mutation in the presence and in the absence of AZT. In AZT-naive patients, tryptophan at RT residue 210 was rare. After AZT exposure, W-210 appeared in a minority of those patients, most commonly in association with L-41 and Y-215. The presence of W-210 increased the AZTIC50 by two- to fourfold, as determined by both the recombinant virus assay and site-directed mutagenesis. A significant replication advantage in favor of the wild-type L-210 over W-210 was observed, although the selection against the 210 mutant was two- to threefold lower when the viruses were grown in the presence of 5 microM AZT. In summary, the L210W mutation appears to be of marginal significance, conferring approximately two- to fourfold-reduced sensitivity to AZT compared with similar AZT-resistant genomes with L-210. The selection pressure against W-210 may account for the modest proportion of patients in which W-210 appears in vivo.

Biochemical studies on the reverse transcriptase and RNase H activities from human immunodeficiency virus strains resistant to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine.

A series of biochemical investigations to compare the DNA polymerase and RNase H functions of the reverse transcriptases (RTs) corresponding to azidothymidine (AZT)-sensitive and -resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) strains are described. Steady-state kinetic studies with purified recombinant enzymes utilizing several templates and three inhibitors, 3' azido-3' deoxythymidine triphosphate (AZTTP), 3-amino-thymidine 5'-triphosphate, and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate, found consistent 2-4-fold differences between the enzymes from the two strains over a wide pH range. A strong pH dependence for all three inhibitors was found at pH values below 7.4 and suggested an ionizable group on the enzyme with a pK of about 7. The sensitivities of the RNase H activities of the two enzymes to AZTTP and AZTMP were also compared and found to be similar. The nucleotide incorporation fidelities of recombinant RTs corresponding to AZT-sensitive and -resistant clinical isolates were compared and the error specificities determined. No significant differences were found. Both enzymes were equally able to incorporate AZTTP into an elongating M13 DNA strand with concomitant chain termination. Purified wild-type and mutant virions from cell-culture supernatants were compared in "endogenous" DNA synthesis reactions, and the sensitivities of this activity to AZTTP were found to be similar. The contrast between the small differences found in this study and the high level of viral resistance in tissue culture presumably reflects an incomplete understanding of AZT inhibition of HIV in the cell.

A mutation in the 3' region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (Y318F) associated with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance.

The Y318F substitution in the 3' region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) has been linked to nonnucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance in vitro. A systematic search of a large phenotypic-genotypic database (Virco) linked the Y318F substitution with a >10-fold decrease in NNRTI susceptibility in >85% of clinically derived isolates. There was a significant association between Y318F and use of delavirdine (P = 10(-11)) and nevirapine (P = 10(-6)) but not efavirenz (P = 0.3). Site-directed HIV-1 Y318F mutants in an HXB2 background displayed 42-fold-decreased susceptibility to delavirdine but <3-fold-decreased susceptibility to nevirapine or efavirenz. Combinations of Y318F with K103N, Y181C, or both resulted in decreased efavirenz susceptibility of 43-, 3.3-, and 84-fold, respectively, as well as >100- and >60-fold decreases in delavirdine and nevirapine susceptibility, respectively. These results indicate the importance of the Y318F substitution in HIV-1 drug resistance.