HIV-1 Genome Variations: Molecular Study and Economical Solutions

The objective of the research work described in this book was to develop molecular tools that can assist clinicians in taking more informed therapeutic decisions towards their HIV-1 infected patients. We demonstrated use of partial HIV-1 p24 gene sequence can function as a tool for viral subtyping. We report a HIV-1 viral load assay which is robust, reliable, economical and effective in resource limited settings like India. Through an extensive study spanning across 206 HIV-1 RT gene sequences, an effective and economical HIV-1 drug resistance genotyping method was developed and clinically validated. A primer extension-based process was explored for its ability to interrogate clinically important single nucleotide polymorphisms within the HIV-1 genome thus indicating its potential to be a cost effective, sensitive and specific HIV-1 mutation detection system. Finally we described a HCV genotyping assay, which has potential to influence therapeutic decisions in HIV-1/HCV co-infected patients. Our work will add value to the existing set of tools available for an inclusive management of HIV-1 that include HCV as a co-infection.