Dynamic change in the NS3 protease domain in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients naïve to anti-HCV protease inhibitors.

ABSTRACT

The genetic analysis of THE natural protease inhibitors (PI) resistance of HCV genotype (GT)1 involves subtypes 1a and 1b. NS3 protease domain was sequentially analysed in 10 HIV/HCV GT1-coinfected individuals naïve to HCV treatment. Analysis at different time points showed that 2/3 GT1b patients were infected by a GT1a clade1 during follow-up. In one patient a switch from clade1 to clade2 and in one other patient a switch from clade2 to clade1 was revealed. Four out of ten patients had resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) at baseline. The dynamics of the dominant infecting subtype suggests the presence of mixed infection in some patients.