Relation between interleukin-6 concentrations and oxidative status of HIV infected patients with /or at risk of Kaposi disease in Yaounde.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between interleukin-6 concentration and oxidative status of HIV infected patients with or at risk of Kaposi's disease in Yaoundé. METHODS: We conducted a two-months cross-sectional study on 87 consenting HIV infected patients followed at the Day Hospital of the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Serum/plasma obtained after centrifugation of blood collected in dry/EDTA tubes was used for the determination of Human Herpes Virus-8 antigen (HHV-8) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) by the ELISA technique, and that of oxidative stress markers: Malondialdehyde (MDA) reduced Glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Subjects belonging to the [40-50[year-old age group were mainly represented in our study population with 43.7%. The average age was 44.6 ± 10.4 years with extremes ranging from 26 to 72 years. The sex ratio was 0.24. Our population was mainly represented by people infected with HIV type I (90.8%) and 3.4% had developed clinical signs of Kaposi's disease. The prevalence of the HHV-8 antigen was 57.5%. Immune and oxidative parameters did not vary with age, sex and therapeutic line. We noted a significant increase in IL-6 concentrations in patients positive to the HHV-8 antigen for IL-6 concentrations < 37 (P = 0.005; CI= [0.40; 0.59]. MDA and GSH concentrations increased significantly with the HHV-8 infection (P < 0.0001; CI= [0.40; 0.59] and P < 0.0001; CI= [13.30;21.45], respectively). Total antioxidant capacity (FRAP) decreased significantly with HHV-8 infection (P = 0.004; CI= [-69.18; -13.78]). We noted a significant increase in MDA concentrations in patients taking their ARVs irregularly, (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our study showed a weak positive correlation between IL-6 and MDA, a strong negative correlation between FRAP and MDA and a strong positive correlation between MDA and GSH highlighting the association of these few markers of oxidative stress and Il-6 to the risk of Kaposi's disease.

Evaluation of HIV-1 capsid genetic variability and lenacapavir (GS-6207) drug resistance-associated mutations according to viral clades among drug-naive individuals.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the HIV-1 capsid genetic variability and lenacapavir drug resistance-associated mutations (DRMs) among drug-naive individuals across HIV-1 clades. METHODS: A total of 2031 HIV-1 sequences from drug-naive patients were analysed for capsid amino acid modification and the prevalence of lenacapavir DRMs. Amino acid positions with <5% variability were considered as conserved and variability was analysed by HIV-1 clades. RESULTS: Overall, 63% (148/232) of amino acid positions were conserved in the capsid protein. Of note, conservation was consistent in specific binding residues of cellular factors involved in viral replication [CypA (G89, P90), CPSF6 (Q4, N57, N74, A77, K182) and TRIM-NUP153 (R143)], while N183 (12.31%) was the only non-conserved lenacapavir binding residue. The overall prevalence (95% CI) of lenacapavir DRMs was 0.14% (0.05-0.44) (3/2031), with M66I (0.05%) and Q67H (0.05%) observed in subtype C, and T107N (0.05%) observed in CRF01_AE. Moreover, polymorphic mutations M66C (n = 85; 4.18%), Q67K (n = 78; 3.84%), K70R (n = 7; 0.34%), N74R (n = 57; 2.81%) and T107L (n = 82; 4.03%) were observed at lenacapavir resistance-associated positions. CONCLUSIONS: The low level of lenacapavir DRMs (<1%) supports its predicted effectiveness for treatment and prevention, regardless of HIV-1 clades. The established conserved regions hence serve as a hallmark for the surveillance of novel mutations potentially relevant for lenacapavir resistance.

Archiving of mutations in HIV-1 cellular reservoirs among vertically infected adolescents is contingent with clinical stages and plasma viral load: Evidence from the EDCTP-READY study.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, HIV-related adolescent deaths have increased about 50%, especially for those who are vertically infected. This could be driven by archived drug resistance mutations (DRMs) as children grow up, which might jeopardize antiretroviral therapy (ART). Our objective was to compare HIV-1 genotypic variation between plasma RNA and proviral DNA of vertically infected adolescents (aged 10-19 years) failing ART. METHODS: A comparative study was conducted in 2019 among 296 adolescents with perinatal HIV infection (ALPHI) failing ART in health facilities of the Centre Region of Cameroon. The WHO clinical stage, CD4 count and plasma viral load (PVL) were measured. For those failing ART (PVL ≥ 1000 copies/mL), RNA (plasma) and proviral DNA (buffy coat) were sequenced in the pol gene at Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon. HIV-1 subtypes and DRMs were interpreted using Stanford HIVdb v.8.8 and MEGA-X. RESULTS: Of the 30% (89/296) failing ART, 81 had both RNA and DNA sequences generated and three were excluded for APOBEC mutations: the mean age was 16 ± 3 years; female-to-male ratio was 3:5; median PVL was 46 856 copies/mL [interquartile range (IQR): 19 898-271 410]; median CD4 count was 264 cells/µL (IQR: 131-574); and 42% were at WHO clinical stage 3/4. Subtype concordance between RNA and DNA viral strains was 100%, with CRF02_AG being predominant (65%) and two potential new recombinants found (A1/G/K; F1/G). Adolescents with DRMs were significantly higher in plasma than in proviral DNA (92% vs. 86%, p < 0.0001). Prevalent DRMs by drug class (RNA vs. DNA respectively) were at position M184 (74% vs. 67%) for nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), K103 (63% vs. 59%) for non-NRTIs, and V82, L76 and M46 (2% vs. 2%) for protease inhibitors. A total of 35% (27/78) of adolescents had concordant DRM profiles in RNA and DNA, while 27% (21/78) had DRMs only in proviral DNA. The presence of archived DRMs was associated with advanced clinical stage 3/4 (OR = 0.14, p = 0.0003) and PVL < 5 Log (Copies/mL) (OR: 4.88, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Although plasma RNA remains more sensitive for detecting HIV-1 DRMs, about a quarter of ALPHI experiencing ART failure in an African setting might have archived DRMs in viral reservoirs, indicating clinically occult resistance. Thus, to ensure effective ART success, proviral DNA profiling (alongside RNA genotyping) would provide additional DRMs for adolescents with advanced clinical stages and/or moderate PVL.

Baseline integrase drug resistance mutations and conserved regions across HIV-1 clades in Cameroon: implications for transition to dolutegravir in resource-limited settings.

BACKGROUND: Transition to dolutegravir-based regimens in resource-limited settings (RLS) requires prior understanding of HIV-1 integrase variants and conserved regions. Therefore, we evaluated integrase drug resistance mutations (DRMs) and conserved regions amongst integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-naive patients harbouring diverse HIV-1 clades in Cameroon. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 918 INSTI-naive patients from Cameroon (89 ART-naive and 829 ART-experienced patients). HIV-1 sequences were interpreted regarding INSTI-DRMs using the Stanford HIVdb v8.9-1 and the 2019 IAS-USA list. Amino acid positions with <1% variability were considered as highly conserved. Subtyping was performed by phylogeny. RESULTS: Overall prevalence (95% CI) of INSTI-DRMs was 0.8% (0.4-1.7), with 0.0% (0.0-4.0) amongst ART-naive versus 0.9% (0.5-1.9) amongst ART-experienced patients; P = 0.44. Accessory mutations (95% CI) were found in 33.8% (30.9-37.0), with 38.2% (28.1-49.1) amongst ART-naive versus 33.4% (30.4-36.7) amongst ART-experienced patients; P = 0.21. Of 288 HIV-1 integrase amino acid positions, 58.3% were highly conserved across subtypes in the following major regions: V75-G82, E85-P90, H114-G118, K127-W132, E138-G149, Q168-L172, T174-V180, W235-A239 and L241-D253. Wide genetic diversity was found (37 clades), including groups M (92.3%), N (1.4%), O (6.2%) and P (0.1%). Amongst group M, CRF02_AG was predominant (47.4%), with a significantly higher frequency (95% CI) of accessory mutations compared with non-AG [41.4% (36.8-46.0) versus 27.1% (23.3-31.2) respectively; P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: The low baseline of INSTI-DRMs (<1%) in Cameroon suggests effectiveness of dolutegravir-based regimens. In spite of high conservation across clades, the variability of accessory mutations between major circulating strains underscores the need for monitoring the selection of INSTI-DRMs while scaling up dolutegravir-based regimens in RLS.

HIV-1 drug resistance testing is essential for heavily-treated patients switching from first- to second-line regimens in resource-limited settings: evidence from routine clinical practice in Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: With the phase-out of stavudine (d4T), change to first-line regimens with zidovudine (AZT) or tenofovir (TDF) in resource-limited settings (RLS) might increase risks of cross-resistance to nucleos(t) ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI). This would restrict the scope of switching to the World Health Organisation (WHO)-recommended standard second-line combinations (SLC) without HIV drug resistance (HIVDR)-testing in routine clinical practice. METHODS: An observational study was conducted among 101 Cameroonian patients (55.4% male, median [IQR] age 34 [10-41] years) failing first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2016, and stratified into three groups according to NRTIs exposure: exposure to both thymidine analogues AZT "and" D4T (group-A, n = 55); exposure to both TDF and AZT "or" D4T (group-B, n = 22); exposure solely to D4T (group-C, n = 24). Protease-reverse transcriptase HIVDR was interpreted using the HIVdb penalty scores (≥60: high-resistance; 20-59: intermediate-resistance; < 20: susceptible). The acceptable threshold for potential-efficacy was set at 80%. RESULTS: The median [IQR] CD4, viral RNA, and time on ART, were respectively 129 [29-466] cells/µl, 71,630 [19,041-368,000] copies/ml, and 4 [2-5] years. Overall HIVDR-level was 89.11% (90/101), with 83.2% harbouring M184 V (high-level 3TC/FTC-resistance) and only 1.98% (2/101) major HIVDR-mutations to ritonavir-boosted protease-inhibitors (PI/r). Thymidine-analogue mutations (TAMs)-1 [T215FY (46.53%), M41 L (22.77%), L210 W (8.91%)], with cross-resistance to AZT and TDF, were higher compared to TAMs-2 [D67N (21.78%), K70R (19.80%), K219QE (18.81%)]. As expected, K65R was related with TDF-exposure: 0% (0/55) in group-A, 22.72% (5/22) group-B, 4.17% (1/24) group-C (p = 0.0013). The potential-efficacy of AZT vs. TDF was respectively 43.64% (24/55) vs. 70.91% (39/55) in group-A (p = 0.0038); 63.64% (14/22) vs. 68.28% (15/22) in group-B (p = 1.0000); and 37.50% (9/24) vs. 83.33% (20/24) in group-C (p = 0.0032). CRF02_AG was the prevailing subtype (63.40%), followed by CRF11.cpx (8.91%), A1 (7.92%), G (5.94%); without any significant effect of the subtype-distribution on HIVDR (92.2% in CRF02_AG vs. 83.8% in non-AG; p = 0.204). CONCLUSION: First-line ART-failure exhibits high-level NRTI-resistance, with potential lower-efficacy of AZT compared to TDF. Significantly, using our 80% efficacy-threshold, only patients without NRTI-substitution on first-line could effectively switch to SLC following the WHO-approach. Patients with multiple NRTI-substitutions (exposed to both thymidine-analogues and TDF) on first-line ART would require HIVDR-testing to select active NRTIs for SLC.

Rates of Viral Non-Suppression and Acquired HIV-1 Drug Resistance Emergence among Children during the Sociopolitical Crisis in the Northwest Region of Cameroon: A Call for Improved Monitoring Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Virological failure (VF) among children remains concerning, with high risks of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) emergence and increased disease progression. Therefore, monitoring of viral non-suppression and emerging HIVDR is crucial, especially in the frame of sociopolitical unrest. OBJECTIVE: The study sought to determine the prevalence of VF and evaluate the acquired HIVDR and viral genetic diversity among children in the northwest region of Cameroon during the ongoing sociopolitical crisis. METHODS: A cross-sectional facility-based study was conducted among HIV-infected children aged ≤18 years, receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in urban and rural settings of Northwest Cameroon, from November 2017 through May 2018. Viral load (VL) was done using the Abbott m2000RealTime. Unsuppressed VL was defined as viral load ≥1,000 copies/ml. HIVDR testing was performed by sequencing of HIV-1 protease-reverse transcriptase at the Chantal Biya International Reference Center (CIRCB) using an in-house protocol. Drug resistance mutations (DRM) were interpreted using Stanford HIVdbv8.5 and phylogeny using MEGAv.6. Data were compared between urban and rural areas with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 363 children were recruited, average age of 12 years (urban) and 8 years (rural). VL coverage was 100% in the urban setting and 77% in the rural setting. Overall, VF was 40.5% (39% [130/332] in the urban setting and 41% (13/31) in the rural setting; p=0.45). Overall, viral undetectability (defined as VL<40 copies/ml) was 45.5% (46% (urban) and 45% (rural); p=0.47). Among those experiencing confirmed virological failure and who were successfully sequenced (n=35), the overall rate of HIVDR was 100% (35/35). By drug class, HIVDR rates were 97.1% (34/35) for non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), 97.1% (34/35) for NRTIs and 17.1% (6/35) for protease inhibitors (22.7% (5/22) in the urban setting and 7.7% [1/13] in the rural setting). CRF02_AG was the most prevalent viral clade (75%), followed by other recombinants (09_cpx, 11_cpx, 13_cpx, 22_01A1, 37_cpx) and pure subtypes (A1, F2, G, H). CONCLUSION: In this population of children and adolescents living with HIV in a context of socio-political instability in the North-West region of Cameroon, rates of viral non-suppression are high, and accompanied by HIVDR selection. Our suggests the need for a more differentiated care of these CAHIV, especially those in these regions faced with significant socio-economic and health impacts due to the ongoing crisis.

Empowering adolescents living with perinatally-acquired HIV: tailored CD4+ count assessment for optimized care, the EDCTP READY-study.

Background: The elevated rate of AIDS-related mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) is influenced by various factors, notably immunosuppression, within a framework of limited therapeutic alternatives. We aimed to enhance the management of pediatric HIV by assessing the immune response and associated factors in perinatally-infected ALHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Cameroon. Methods: A cohort study was conducted from 2018-2020 among 271 ART-experienced ALHIV in Cameroon. Sociodemographic data, immunological (CD4), and virological (plasma viral load, PVL) responses were measured at enrolment (T0), 6-months (T1), and 12-months (T2) using PIMA CD4 (Abbott/Pantech (Pty) Ltd) and Abbott Applied Biosystem platform (Real-Time PCR m2000RT) respectively. Immunological failure (IF) was defined as absolute CD4 < 250 cells/mm3, and Virological failure (VF) as PVL ≥ 1,000 copies/ml. A linear mixed-effects model with R version 4.4.1 was used to estimate both fixed and random effects, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Of the 271 perinatally-infected ALHIV enrolled over three phases, females were predominant (55.7, 55.1, and 56.0%); median age was 14 (IQR: 12-17); majority of the participants were followed-up in urban areas (77.5, 74.5, and 78.6%); and the age distribution favored older adolescents (48.7, 61.2, and 58.5%). Most participants achieved clinical success (93.1, 89.7, 88.9%), predominantly on first-line ART (80.8, 66.2, and 53.0%), with good adherence (64.2, 58.9, and 64.5%). Most participants had secondary education (67.2, 70.1, and 67.5%). Median CD4+ counts fluctuated overtime, with values of 563 (IQR: 249.0-845.0), 502 (IQR: 319.0-783.5), and 628 (IQR: 427.5-817.5), respectively. Of note, being male was linked to a reduction in CD4+ count compared to females, [-200.63 (-379.32 to -21.95), p = 0.028]. Similarly, late adolescence was associated with lower CD4+ counts compared to early adolescence, [-181.08 (-301.08 to -61.09), p = 0.003]. Moreover, participants experiencing VF showed significantly lower CD4+ counts compared to those with undetectable viral loads, [-353.08 (-465.81 to -240.36), p < 0.001]. Additionally, there was a marginally significant interaction between male gender and secondary educational level, [209.78 (-6.94-426.51), p = 0.058]. Conclusion: Among perinatally-infected ALHIV, age, gender, educational level, and virological status are key factors influencing their immune health and treatment outcomes. Prioritizing targeted interventions and close monitoring within these subgroups is crucial for optimal management, employing holistic care strategies that consider not only medical interventions but also psychosocial support and education.

HIV-1 genotypic profiling ensures effective response to third-line antiretroviral therapy in Cameroon.

In order to limit the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance in a context of limited antiretroviral options, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of third-line (3L) regimens considering HIV genotypic resistance profile at initiation of 3L in Cameroon. A cohort-study was conducted from January-September 2020 among patients initiating a 3L antiretroviral therapy regimen at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. HIV-1 protease-reverse transcriptase was sequenced at the Chantal Biya international reference center for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management and results were interpreted using Stanford HIVdbv8.3. Good virological response (viral load < 390 copies/mL) was assessed after 12 months using OPP-ERA platform. Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info v7.2.2.6, with P < .05 considered statistically significant. Of the 38 patients initiating 3L with an available genotyping (42% female; median age, 49 [39-57] years), median cluster of differentiation type 4 count and viral load were 173 [34-374] cells/µL and 169,322 [30,382-551,826] copies/mL, respectively. At enrollment, all patients harbored resistance to reverse transcriptase inhibitors and 66% (25/38) to protease-inhibitors, although 63% (24/38) were still susceptible to darunavir/ritonavir. Preferred 3L regimen was dolutegravir + darunavir/r + tenofovir + lamivudine (51%) and median duration on 3L was 21 [17-32] months. Interestingly, 82% (31/38) of the participants achieved good virological response on 3L, regardless of genotypic profile at recruitment, variations in 3L regimens (P = .9) and baseline cluster of differentiation type 4 count (P = .3). Despite the high burden of reverse transcriptase inhibitor - and protease inhibitor boosted by ritonavir drug resistance, genotyping-guided 3L regimens is accompanied by virological success in most patients. This high efficacy, most likely due to use of high genetic barrier antiretrovirals, requires continuous adherence support alongside close monitoring for long-term effectiveness in similar programmatic settings.

Genotypic resistance testing improves antiretroviral treatment outcomes in a cohort of adolescents in Cameroon: Implications in the dolutegravir-era.

Acquired drug resistance (ADR) is common among adolescents living with perinatal HIV (APHI) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Personalized management has the potential to improve pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART), even in the presence of long-term treatment and HIV-1 subtype diversity. We sought to evaluate the effect of HIV-1 mutational profiling on immuno-virological response and ADR among APHI. A cohort-study was conducted from 2018-2020 among 311 APHI receiving ART in Cameroon. Clinical, immunological and virological responses were measured at enrolment (T1), 6-months (T2) and 12-months (T3). Immunological failure (IF: CD4 #x003C;250 cells/mm3), VF (viremia ≥1,000 copies/ml), and ADR were analyzed, with P#x003C;0.05 considered significant. Mean age was 15(±3) years; male-female ratio was 1:1; median [IQR] ART-duration was 36[21-81] months. At T1, T2, and T3 respectively, adherence-level was 66.4, 58.3 and 66.5%; 14 viral clades were found, driven by CRF02_AG (58.6%); ADR-mutations favored increased switch to second-line ART (16.1, 31.2, and 41.9%, P#x003C;0.0001). From T1-T3 respectively, there were declining rates of IF (25.5, 18.9, and 9.83%, P#x003C;0.0001), VF (39.7, 39.9, and 28.2%, P=0.007), and HIVDR (96.4, 91.7, and 85.0%, P=0.099). Predictors of ADR were being on first-line ART (P=0.045), high viremia at enrolment (AOR=12.56, P=0.059), and IF (AOR=5.86, P=0.010). Of note, optimized ART guided by mutational profile (AOR=0.05, P=0.002) was protective. Moreover, full Tenofovir+Lamivudine+Dolutegravir efficacy was predicted in 77 and 62% of APHI respectively after first- and second-line failure. Among APHI in this SSA setting, viral mutational profiling prompts the use of optimized Dolutegravir-based ART regimens, leading to improved immuno-virological response and declining ADR burdens. Thus, implementing personalized HIV medicine in this vulnerable population would substantially improve ART response and the achievement of the 95-95-95 goals in these underserved populations.

HIV-1 subtype diversity and immuno-virological outcomes among adolescents failing antiretroviral therapy in Cameroon: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the variability of HIV-1 and its effect on immuno-virological response among adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV (APHI). METHODS: A cohort study was conducted from 2018-2020 among 311 APHI receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Cameroon. Sequencing of protease and reverse transcriptase regions was performed for participants experiencing virological failure, VF, (Plasma viral load, PVL ≥ 1000 RNA copies/ml). HIV-1 subtypes were inferred by phylogeny; immuno-virological responses were monitored at 3-time points (T1-T3). Cox regression modeling was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of progression to: CD4 < 250, and PVL > 5log10, adjusted for acquired drug resistance, gender, ART line, adherence, and duration on treatment; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the 141 participants in VF enrolled, the male-female ratio was 1:1; mean age was 15 (±3) years; and median [IQR] duration on ART was 51 [46-60] months. In all phases, 17 viral clades were found with a predominant CRF02_AG (58.2%, 59.4%, and 58.3%). From T1-T3 respectively, there was an increasing CD4 count (213 [154-313], 366 [309-469], and 438 [364-569] cells/mm3) and decline log10 PVL (5.23, 4.43, and 4.43), similar across subtypes. Among participants with CRF02_AG infection, duration of treatment was significantly associated with both rates of progression to CD4 < 250, and PVL > 5log10, aHR = 0.02 (0.001-0.52), and aHR = 0.05 (0.01-0.47) respectively. Moreover, four potential new HIV-1 recombinants were identified (CRF02_AG/02D, CRF02_AG/02A1F2, D/CRF02_AG, and AF2/CRF02_AG), indicating a wide viral diversity. CONCLUSION: Among APHI in settings like Cameroon, there is a wide genetic diversity of HIV-1, driven by CRF02_AG and with potential novel clades due to ongoing recombination events. Duration of treatment significantly reduces the risk of disease progression.

Relation between haptoglobin polymorphism and oxidative stress status, lipid profile, and cardiovascular risk in sickle cell anemia patients.

OBJECTIVE: The haptoglobin (Hp) gene located on chromosome 16q22 exhibits a polymorphism that can impact its capacity to inhibit the deleterious oxidative activity of free hemoglobin. We aimed to determine the influence of Hp polymorphism on oxidative stress, lipid profile, and cardiovascular risk in Cameroonian sickle cell anemia patients (SCA patients). METHOD: The Hp genotypes of 102 SCA patients (SS), 60 healthy individuals (AA), and 55 subjects with sickle cell trait (AS) were determined by allele-specific PCR, and the blood parameters were assessed using standard methods. RESULTS: Hp2-2 genotype was significantly (P < .05) present in SS (54%) than in AS (42%) and AA (38%). Levels of catalase and cell reactive protein were higher, while levels of total antioxidant capacity, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholestetol, blood pressure, Framingham score, and body mass index were lower in the SCA patients. These parameters appeared to be unrelated to the haptoglobin genotypes. SCA patients with Hp1-1 genotype presented a higher oxidative stress index (0.53 ± 0.31) than those with Hp2-1 (0.33 ± 0.18). Lipid profile and cardiovascular risk were not significantly different between various Hp genotypes in SCA patients. CONCLUSION: Haptoglobin polymorphism did not affect lipid profile, cardiovascular risk, and oxidative stress status of SCA patients. Nevertheless, SCA patients with Hp1-1 genotype tended to be more prone to oxidative stress than those with Hp2-1.

Detection of Gag C-terminal mutations among HIV-1 non-B subtypes in a subset of Cameroonian patients.

Response to ritonavir-boosted-protease inhibitors (PI/r)-based regimen is associated with some Gag mutations among HIV-1 B-clade. There is limited data on Gag mutations and their covariation with mutations in protease among HIV-1 non-B-clades at PI/r-based treatment failure. Thus, we characterized Gag mutations present in isolates from HIV-1 infected individuals treated with a PI/r-regimen (n = 143) and compared them with those obtained from individuals not treated with PI/r (ART-naïve [n = 101] or reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTI) treated [n = 118]). The most frequent HIV-1 subtypes were CRF02_AG (54.69%), A (13.53%), D (6.35%) and G (4.69%). Eighteen Gag mutations showed a significantly higher prevalence in PI/r-treated isolates compared to ART-naïve (p < 0.05): Group 1 (prevalence < 1% in drug-naïve): L449F, D480N, L483Q, Y484P, T487V; group 2 (prevalence 1-5% in drug-naïve): S462L, I479G, I479K, D480E; group 3 (prevalence ≥ 5% in drug-naïve): P453L, E460A, R464G, S465F, V467E, Q474P, I479R, E482G, T487A. Five Gag mutations (L449F, P453L, D480E, S465F, Y484P) positively correlated (Phi ≥ 0.2, p < 0.05) with protease-resistance mutations. At PI/r-failure, no significant difference was observed between patients with and without these associated Gag mutations in term of viremia or CD4 count. This analysis suggests that some Gag mutations show an increased frequency in patients failing PIs among HIV-1 non-B clades.

HIV-1 integrase resistance associated mutations and the use of dolutegravir in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

As sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries are transitioning to dolutegravir (DTG)-based ART, baseline data are required for optimal monitoring of therapeutic response. In this frame, we sought to generate up-to-date evidence on the use of integrase-strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) and associated drug resistance mutations (DRMs) within SSA. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we included randomized and non-randomized trials, cohort-studies, cross-sectional studies, and case-reports published on INSTI or integrase DRMs in SSA. We included studies of patients exposed to DTG, raltegravir (RAL) or elvitegravir (EVG). Primary outcomes were "the rate of virological control (VC:<50copies/ml)" and "the presence of DRMs" on INSTI-based regimens among patients in SSA. We synthesised extracted data using subgroup analysis, and random effect models were used where appropriate. Additional analyses were conducted to assess study heterogeneity. We identified 1,916 articles/citations through database searches, of which 26 were included in the analysis pertaining to 5,444 patients (mean age: 37±13 years), with 67.62% (3681/5444) female. Specifically, 46.15% (12/26) studies focused on DTG, 26.92% (7/26) on RAL, 23.08% (6/26) on both DTG and RAL, and 3.85% (1/26) on EVG. We found an increasing use of DTG overtime (0% before 2018 to 100% in 2021). Median treatment duration under INSTI-based regimens was 12 [9-36] months. Overall, the rate of VC was 88.51% [95%CI: 73.83-97.80] with DTG vs. 82.49% [95%CI: 55.76-99.45] and 96.55% [95%CI: 85.7-100.00] with RAL and EVG, respectively. In univariate analysis, VC with DTG-containing vs. other INSTI-regimens was significantly higher (OR = 1.44 [95%CI: 1.15-1.79], p = 0.0014). Among reported DRMs at failure, the only DTG resistance-mutations were G118R and R263K. In SSA, DTG presents a superiority effect in VC compared to other INSTIs. Nonetheless, the early detection of INSTI-DRMs calls for sentinel surveillance for a successful transition and a sustained efficacy of DTG in SSA. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42019122424.

High performance of integrase genotyping on diverse HIV-1 clades circulating in Cameroon: toward a successful transition to dolutegravir-based regimens in low and middle-income countries.

A successful transition to dolutegravir-based regimens in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires an integrase genotyping assay effective on diverse HIV-1 clades. We herein developed and validated an in-house integrase genotyping protocol on plasma samples from 195 HIV-infected patients in Cameroon. Median [IQR] viremia was 23,574 (518-109,235) copies/mL; 128/195 participants had ≥1000copies/mL (i.e., WHO-threshold for genotypic resistance testing in LMICs). A total of 18 viral clades were detected: 72(51.1%) CRF02_AG, 38(26.9%) pure subtypes and 31(22.0%) other recombinants. Following WHO-threshold (≥1000copies/ml), sequencing performance was 82.81%(106/128). Regarding viremia, performance was 85.00%(68/80) with ≥100,000copies/mL versus 76.67%(23/30) with 10,000 to 99,999copies/mL (P = 0.22); 83.33%(15/18) with 1,000 to 99,999copies/mL (P = 0.55); 73.68%(14/19) with 500 to 999copies/mL (P = 0.19); 50%(13/26) for 200 to 499copies/mL (P = 0.0005) and 36.36%(8/22) for <200copies/mL (P < 0.0001). The developed in-house integrase-genotyping is highly effective on both pure and recombinant viral clades, even at low-level viremia. This performance underscores its usefulness in monitoring integrase-resistance mutations and supporting the scale-up of dolutegravir-based regimens in LMICs.

Evaluation of Circulating and Archived HIV-1 Integrase Drug-Resistance Variants among Patients on Third-Line ART in Cameroon: Implications for Dolutegravir-Containing Regimens in Resource-Limited Settings.

To ensure the long-term efficacy of dolutegravir (DTG), we evaluated the genotypic profile in viral reservoirs among patients on third-line (3L) antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Cameroon, according to prior exposure to raltegravir (RAL). A facility-based study was conducted from May through December 2021 among patients on 3L ART from HIV treatment centers in Yaoundé and Douala. Viral load was measured, and genotyping was performed on plasma RNA and proviral DNA. HIV-1 drug resistance mutations were interpreted using HIVdb.v9.1 and phylogeny analysis was performed using MEGA.v7, with P < 0.05 considered significant. Of the 12,093 patients on ART, 53 fully met our inclusion criteria. The median (IQR) age was 51 years (40 to 55 years), and the male/female ratio was 4/5. The median duration on integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTI)-containing regimens was 18 months (12 to 32 months), and 15.09% (8/53) were exposed to RAL. The most administered 3L ART was TDF+3TC+DTG+DRV/r (33.96%, 18/53). Only 5.66% (3/53) had unsuppressed viremia (>1000 copies/mL). Resistance testing in proviral DNA was successful for 18/22 participants and revealed 1/18 patients (5.56%, in the RAL-arm) with archived mutations at major resistance positions (G140R and G163R). Five subtypes were identified, CRF02_AG (12/18), CRF22_01AE (3/18), A1 (1/18), G (1/18), and F2 (1/18). In Cameroon, 3L-experienced patients had a good virological response with a low level of archived mutations in the integrase. This finding underscored the use of DTG-containing ART for heavily treated patients in similar programmatic settings. However, patients with prior exposure to RAL should be closely monitored following a stratified or personalized approach to mitigate risks of INSTI-resistance, alongside pharmacovigilance. IMPORTANCE We described the analysis of the genotypes of the population within third-line antiviral therapy in Cameroon, with a focus on defining the effects of prior raltegravir (RAL) treatment and resistance mutations for current dolutegravir (DTG) treatment. While supporting the current transition to DTG-containing ART in resource-limited settings toward the achievement of the UNAIDS' goal of HIV elimination by 2030, our findings suggested that RAL-exposed patients may need a specific monitoring approach either in a stratified or personalized model of third-line ART to ensure the long-term success of DTG-containing regimens.

Dolutegravir-Based Regimen Ensures High Virological Success despite Prior Exposure to Efavirenz-Based First-LINE ART in Cameroon: An Evidence of a Successful Transition Model.

To ensure optimal prescribing practices in the dolutegravir-era in Cameroon, we compared first-line virological response (VR) under tenofovir + lamivudine + dolutegravir (TLD) according to prior exposure to tenofovir + lamivudine + efavirenz (TLE). A facility-based survey was conducted among patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) with TLD (I-TLD) versus those transitioning from TLE to TLD (T-TLD). HIV viral load was performed and unsuppressed participants (VL > 1000 copies/mL) had genotyping performed by Sanger sequencing. Of the 12,093 patients followed, 310 (mean-age: 41 ± 11 years; 52.26% female) complied with study criteria (171 I-TLD vs. 139 T-TLD). The median ART-duration was 14 (12−17) months among I-TLDs versus 28 (24.5−31) months among T-TLDs (15 (11−19) on TLE and 14 (9−15) on TLD), and 83.15% (148/178) were at WHO clinical stages I/II. The viral suppression rate (<1000 copies/mL) was 96.45%, with 97.08% among I-TLDs versus 95.68% among T-TLDs (p = 0.55). VR was similar in I-TLD versus T-TLD at <400 copies/mL (94.15% versus 94.42%) and age, gender, residence, ART-duration, and WHO stages were not associated with VR (p > 0.05). Genotyping was successful for 72.7% (8/11), with no major mutations to integrase inhibitors found. VR is optimal under first-line TLD after 14 months, even among TLE-exposed, thus confirming the effectiveness of transitioning from TLE to TLD in similar settings, supported by strong pharmacological potency and genetic barrier of dolutegravir.

HIV-1 Gag gene mutations, treatment response and drug resistance to protease inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Some mutations in the HIV-1 Gag gene are known to confer resistance to ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PI/r), but their clinical implications remain controversial. This review aims at summarizing current knowledge on HIV-1 Gag gene mutations that are selected under PI/r pressure and their distribution according to viral subtypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized and non-randomized trials, cohort and cross-sectional studies evaluating HIV-1 Gag gene mutations and protease resistance associated mutations, will all be included. Searches will be conducted (from January 2000 onwards) in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILAC), Web of Science, African Journals Online, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Hand searching of the reference lists of relevant reviews and trials will be conducted and we will also look for conference abstracts. Genotypic profiles of both Gag gene and the protease region as well as viral subtypes (especially B vs. non B) will all serve as comparators. Primary outcomes will be the "prevalence of Gag mutations" and the "prevalence of PI/r resistance associated mutations". Secondary outcomes will be the "rate of treatment failure" and the distribution of Gag mutations according to subtypes. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts, assess the full texts for eligibility, and extract data. If data permits, random effects models will be used where appropriate. This study will be reported according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses. DISCUSSION: This systematic review will help identify HIV-1 Gag gene mutations associated to PI/r-based regimen according to viral subtypes. Findings of this review will help to better understand the implications of the Gag gene mutations in PI/r treatment failure. This may later justify considerations of Gag-genotyping within HIV drug resistance interpretation algorithms in the clinical management of patients receiving PI/r regimens. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42019114851.

Haptoglobin Gene Polymorphism among Sickle Cell Patients in West Cameroon: Hematological and Clinical Implications.

Haptoglobin is a protein involved in protecting the body from the harmful effects of free hemoglobin. The haptoglobin gene exhibits a polymorphism, and the different genotypes do not have the same capacity to combat the free hemoglobin effects. The present study aimed at determining the polymorphic distribution of haptoglobin in sickle cell patients (SCPs) from West Cameroon and their impact on the hematological parameters, as well as clinical manifestations of the disease severity. Haptoglobin genotype of 102 SCPs (SS) and 115 healthy individuals (60 AA and 55 AS) was determined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction, and the complete blood count was determined using the AutoAnalyser. Results showed that the genotype Hp2-2 was significantly (p < 0.05) represented in SS patients (54%) than in controls AA and AS (27% and 29%, respectively), while Hp2-1 was mostly found (p < 0.05) in AS (42%) and AA (38%), against 15% in SS. The allelic distribution in SS patients was Hp2: 0.613, Hp1S: 0.304, and Hp1F: 0.084. In AA and AS controls, the proportions of the Hp1 and Hp2 alleles were similar (around 0.5 each), with 0.282 for Hp1S and 0.218 for Hp1F in AS and 0.283 for Hp1S and 0.258 for Hp1F in AA. The distribution of the haptoglobin genotypes did not reveal any significant difference across hematological parameters and clinical manifestations of disease severity in SCP and controls. SCP with Hp1S-1F genotype presented the highest level of hemoglobin. Although Hp2-2 was more frequent in SS patients, it appeared not to be related to the hematological parameters and to the disease's severity. Further investigations are necessary to explore the impact of Hp polymorphism such as antioxidant, lipid profile, and functionality of some tissues in SCP in Cameroon.

HIV-1 integrase resistance associated mutations and the use of dolutegravir in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa carries the greatest burden of HIV-infection with increasing drug resistance burden, which requires improved patient management and monitoring. Current WHO recommendations suggest transitioning to dolutegravir-based (adults) or raltegravir-based-regimens (neonates) for initial antiretroviral therapy (ART) and as a suitable alternative in cases of multi-resistance in resource-limited settings. This review aims at synthesizing the current knowledge on dolutegravir use and integrase resistance-associated mutations found before the wide use of dolutegravir-based regimens. METHODS: This systematic review will include randomized and non-randomized trials, cohort, and cross-sectional studies published on dolutegravir use or integrase resistance-associated mutations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Searches will be conducted (from 2007 onwards) in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILAC), Web of Science, African Journals Online, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Hand searching of the reference lists of relevant reviews and trials will be conducted and we will also look for conference abstracts. We will include studies of adults and/or children exposed to integrase inhibitors-based therapies; especially dolutegravir or raltegravir (which is our intervention of interest as compared to other antiretroviral regimens). We will exclude studies of patients with specific co-morbidities such as tuberculosis or opportunistic infections. Primary outcomes will be "the rate of viral suppression" and "the level of drug resistance" on integrase inhibitor-based regimens among patients in Sub-Saharan Africa. Secondary outcomes will be "the effect of baseline viremia on viral suppression," "the effect of treatment duration on viral suppression," "the proportion of patients with immune recovery," "the rate of non-adherence," "rate of adverse events;" "drug resistance according to different integrase inhibitor-based regimens," and "drug resistance according to viral subtypes/recombinants." Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts, assess the full texts for eligibility, and extract data. If data permits, random effects models will be used where appropriate. Subgroup and additional analyses will be conducted to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity (e.g., age, sex, baseline viremia, CD4 following treatment, treatment duration, and adherence level). DISCUSSION: This review will help to strengthen evidence on the effectiveness of integrase strand transfer inhibitors by contributing to current knowledge on the use of dolutegravir and/or raltegravir (especially for neonates) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Results will therefore help in setting-up baseline data for an optimal management of people living with HIV as Sub-Saharan African countries are transitioning to dolutegravir-based regimens. Evidence will also support HIV/AIDS programs in identifying gaps and actions to be undertaken for improved long-term care and treatment of people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019122424.

Pre-treatment drug resistance and HIV-1 genetic diversity in the rural and urban settings of Northwest-Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: With the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART), pre-treatment drug resistance (PDR) appears ≥10% amongst ART-initiators in many developing countries, including Cameroon. Northwest region-Cameroon having the second epidemiological burden of HIV infection, generating data on PDR in these geographical settings, will enhance evidence-based decision-making. OBJECTIVES: We sought to ascertain levels of PDR and HIV-1 clade dispersal in rural and urban settings, and their potential association with subtype distribution and CD4-staging. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2017 among patients recently diagnosed with HIV-infection and initiating ART at the Bamenda regional Hospital (urban setting) and the Mbingo Baptist hospital (rural setting). Protease and reverse transcriptase sequencing was performed using an in-house protocol and pre-treatment drug resistance mutations were interpreted using Stanford HIVdb.v8.3. Phylogeny was performed for subtype assignation. RESULTS: A total of 61 patient sequences were generated from ART initiators (median age: 37 years old; 57.4% female; median CD4 cell count: 184 [IQR: 35-387] in urban vs. 161 [IQR: 96-322] cells/mm3 in rural). Overall, the level of PDR was 9.8% (6/61). Of note, burden of PDR was almost doubled in urban (12.9% [4/31]) compared to rural setting 6.7% (2/30), p = 0.352). Fifteen (15) PDR mutations were found among four patients the urban settings [6 resistance mutations to NRTIs:[M41L (2), E44D (1), K65R (1), K70E (1), M184V/I (2), K219R (1)] and 6 resistance mutations to NNRTIs: K103N (1), E138A/G (2), V179E (1), M230L (1), K238T (1), P225H (1)] against two (02) mutations found in two patients in the rural setting[2 resistant mutations to NNRTIs: E138A (1) and Y188H (1)]. The rural setting showed more genetic diversity (8 subtypes) than the urban setting (5 subtypes), with CRF02_AG being the most prevalent clade (72.1% [44/61]). Of note, level of PDR was similar between patients infected with CRF02_AG and non-CRF02_AG infected (9.1% [4/44]) vs. 11.8% [2/17]), p = 1.000). Moreover, PDR appeared higher in patients with CD4 cell count <200 cells/mm3 compared to those with CD4 cell count ≥200 cells/mm3 (14.7% [5/34]) vs. 3.7% [1/27]), p = 0.214). CONCLUSIONS: PDR is at a moderate rate in the Northwest region of Cameroon, with higher burden within urban populations. CRF02_AG is the most predominant clade in both urban and rural settings. No effect of HIV molecular epidemiology and CD4-staging on the presence of PDR in patients living in these settings was found. Our findings suggest close monitoring, NNRTI-sparing regimens or sequencing for patients initiating ART, especially in urban settings.