High prevalence of reverse transcriptase inhibitors associated resistance mutations among people living with HIV on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy in Francistown, Botswana
)
- Published on: January 7 2025
- Source: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Since 2016, clinicians in Botswana have been prescribing dolutegravir as antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV. Before this project, the authors state, no study had characterised HIV-1 drug resistance mutations in people living with HIV on dolutegravir-based ART in the Botswana National ART program. Using Oxford Nanopore sequencing, Choga et al. achieved fast, accurate sequencing of HIV-1 genes, and uncovered key antiretroviral resistance mutations. Its cost effectiveness and rapid turnaround time made Oxford Nanopore sequencing a game changer for preventing treatment failure in resource-limited settings.
Key points:
Choga et al. obtained plasma samples from 100 individuals with HIV.
HIV drug resistance mutations were detected in 32.8% of the sequenced samples, with prevalence not correlated to viral load.
Resistance to other antiretrovirals was prevalent, with a lower incidence of dolutegravir-associated resistance mutations (5%).
Oxford Nanopore sequencing allowed for high-throughput, cost-effective genotyping and detection of resistance mutations, even in samples with a low viral load which proved challenging for other methods.
Sample type: human blood plasma
Kit: Rapid Barcoding Kit
