Evaluation of archived drug resistance mutations in HIV‐1 DNA among vertically infected adolescents under antiretroviral treatment in Cameroon: Findings during the COVID‐19 pandemic

• Published in: HIV medicine 2023-06, Vol.24 (6), p.691-702
• Main Authors: Ka'e, Aude Christelle, Fokam, Joseph, Togna Pabo, Willy Le Roi, Nanfack, Aubin, Ngoufack Jagni Semengue, Ezechiel, Bouba, Yagai, Nka, Alex Durand, Tetang, Suzie, Beloumou, Grace, Takou, Desire, Chenwi, Collins, Tommo Tchouaket, Michel Carlos, Abba, Aissatou, Djupsa, Sandrine, Sosso, Samuel Martin, Pamen, Nounouce Bouba, Otshudiema, John O., Boum, Yap, Colizzi, Vittorio, Ndjolo, Alexis, Perno, Carlo‐Federico, Ceccherini‐Silberstein, Francesca, Santoro, Maria M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral therapy; archived drug resistance mutations; Cameroon - epidemiology; CD4 antigen; CD4 nadir; Child; Children; Comparative studies; Context; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA - therapeutic use; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Viral - genetics; Exposure; Female; Genotyping; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Seropositivity - drug therapy; HIV-1 - genetics; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; IgG antibody; Immunity; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Male; Mutation; Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors; Pandemics; Polymerase chain reaction; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA, Viral; RNA-directed DNA polymerase; SARS-CoV-2; SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Viral diseases; Viral Load
• ISSN: 1464-2662; 1468-1293
• DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13459

Background With the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART), children born with HIV are more likely to reach adolescence. However, frequent non‐adherence to ART in adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) leads to viral replication. Notably, a viraemic infection might lead to archived drug resistance mutations (ADRMs). Hence, within the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic, we aimed to compare the patterns of ADRMs in viraemic and non‐viraemic vertically infected ALHIV and to assess their immunity to and diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2. Methods A comparative study was conducted among COVID‐19‐unvaccinated ALHIV receiving ART in Yaoundé‐Cameroon over the period October 2021 to March 2022. Plasma HIV‐RNA was measured using Abbott® m2000rt; HIV‐1 genotyping was performed on buffy‐coat (HIV‐1 DNA) and ADRMs were interpreted using HIVdb.v9.0.1. Patterns of HIV‐1 ADRMs were compared between viraemic (≥ 1.60 log10HIV‐1 RNA copies/ml) and non‐viraemic (