The genetic diversity of HIV-1 in vivo allows the virus to surmount initially effective anti-viral drug therapies. Quasispecies under strong drug selection pressures will be genetically analyzed to better understand the emergence of drug resistance and to identify the major sites of virus replication. HIV-1 quasispecies developing viral protease inhibitor resistance will be examined at both the protease and envelope loci. The frequency of drug resistant variants before treatment and the impact of overall viral genetic diversity on drug efficacy will be determined. The genetic diversity of emerging drug resistant virus populations and the role of interloci recombination in generating genetic diversity (potentially a major impediment to combination drug efficacy) will be examined. A rapidly selected genetic marker (nevirapine drug resistance) will be used together with rapid and sensitive methods of genetic analysis to identify anatomical sites with the highest levels of viral replication. The lingering presence of drug sensitivity genetic markers will also be used to identify sites harboring long lived proviral reservoirs potentially capable of rekindling infection once therapy is discontinued. In order to allow frequent and extensive tissue collection RT-SHIV infected rhesus macaques will be used. The investigator believes that these experiments will identify the major anatomical sites of viral replication and establish the role of viral genetic diversity on drug efficacy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29AI040408-02
Application #
2457889
Study Section
AIDS and Related Research Study Section 4 (ARRD)
Project Start
1996-08-01
Project End
2001-07-31
Budget Start
1997-08-01
Budget End
1998-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
786658872
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016