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Enfuvirtide is active against HIV type 1 group O

Eva Poveda1, Pablo Barreiro, Berta Rodés

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.

AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
|July 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Enfuvirtide (ENF) shows antiviral activity against HIV-1 group O, contrary to expectations. Clinical results indicate a potential benefit of ENF therapy for individuals with HIV-1 group O strains.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • High diversity in gp41 HR1/HR2 regions and specific amino acid changes in HIV-1 group O isolates suggested enfuvirtide (ENF) ineffectiveness.
  • Previous assumptions questioned ENF's activity against Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) group O.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vitro and in vivo antiviral activity of enfuvirtide (ENF) against HIV-1 group O isolates.
  • To determine if enfuvirtide is effective in treating HIV-1 group O infections.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro analysis of enfuvirtide's IC50 against a clinical HIV-1 group O isolate.
  • In vivo monitoring of plasma HIV-RNA and CD4+ T-cell counts in a patient undergoing ENF treatment.

Main Results:

  • The baseline IC50 of enfuvirtide against the HIV-1 group O isolate was determined to be 0.15 +/- 0.028 microg/ml.
  • A patient treated with enfuvirtide showed a significant reduction in plasma HIV-RNA levels and an increase in CD4+ T-cell count.

Conclusions:

  • Enfuvirtide demonstrates in vitro antiviral activity against HIV-1 group O.
  • Clinical observations suggest that enfuvirtide therapy may be beneficial for patients infected with HIV-1 group O strains.

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