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DR_SEQAN: a PC/Windows-based software to evaluate drug resistance using human immunodeficiency virus type 1
César Garriga1, Luis Menéndez-Arias
1Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas--Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain. cgarriga@msc.es
BMC Infectious Diseases
|March 10, 2006
Summary
DR_SEQAN is a user-friendly tool that interprets human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug resistance mutations. This application aids clinicians in understanding complex genotypic assay results for better HIV management.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Bioinformatics
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Genotypic assays analyzing HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR) sequences are standard in clinical management.
- Interpreting these genotypic results is challenging due to complex interactions between viral mutations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and present DR_SEQAN, an application for analyzing HIV-1 RT and PR sequences.
- To provide expert interpretation of HIV genotypic drug resistance, aiding clinical decision-making.
Main Methods:
- DR_SEQAN analyzes RT and PR sequences, identifying amino acid changes compared to a wild-type strain.
- The tool handles ambiguities from nucleotide mixtures and integrates a rule-based algorithm for resistance prediction.
- An integrated Microsoft Access database provides drug susceptibility data and references for mutations.
Main Results:
- DR_SEQAN accurately identifies amino acid changes and potential ambiguities in HIV-1 sequences.
- Resistance predictions were consistent with phenotypic data and other algorithms.
- The program provides comprehensive tables of mutation data and references.
Conclusions:
- DR_SEQAN is an easy-to-use, off-line application for HIV genotypic resistance interpretation.
- The software is freely available for PC/Windows platforms.
- It offers expert advice to support the clinical management of HIV-infected individuals.