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Identification of a new 2‐amino acid insertion in the integrase coding region of HIV‐1 subtype G isolates
Author(s) -
PereiraVaz João,
Crespo Pedro,
Mocho Luísa,
Martinho Patrícia,
Fidalgo Teresa,
Correia Lurdes,
Rodrigues Fernando,
Duque Vítor
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.27205
Subject(s) - integrase , virology , biology , genetics , coding region , virus , reverse transcriptase , insertion sequence , amino acid , mutation , gene , rna , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , genome , transposable element
Amino acid insertions have been rarely found in the integrase (IN) coding region of Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV‐1), and have been considered as natural polymorphisms. It is still unclear the potential impact of these insertion mutations on the viral replication capacity and/or susceptibility to integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs). The objective of this study was to describe a previously unreported amino acid insertion in the IN coding region of HIV‐1 isolates obtained from antiretroviral treatment‐naïve infected individuals. Nucleotide sequences of HIV‐1 isolates obtained from two infected individuals were analyzed for genotypic resistance to antiretroviral drugs. Phylogenetic inference was carried out for HIV‐1 genetic variant identification. An unreported insertion of a threonine (T) and an asparagine (N) between codon 255 and 256 (S255N_TN) was identified in the IN C‐terminal domain of HIV‐1 subtype G isolates. No resistance‐associated mutations to INSTIs were detected in the inserted sequences. Both individuals maintained undetectable HIV‐1 RNA viral load, 24 months after undergoing antiretroviral treatment with an INSTI containing regimen. The results demonstrated the possibility of transmission of this insertion mutation and suggested that the codon 255 insert by itself may not affect susceptibility to INSTIs.