HIV-1 RNA and DNA genotyping drug resistance detection in patients with low-level viremia in Liangshan, China.

In this study, we characterized HIV-1 RNA and HIV-1 DNA genotyping drug resistance detection in patients with low-level viremia in Liangshan, China. Whole blood samples were collected from HIV/AIDS patients who had received anti-retroviral therapy for more than six months and whose HIV-1 RNA loads were 50-1000 copies/mL for two consecutive times at least one month apart. The patients were enrolled from a county in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province between May 2021 and May 2022. Plasma and blood cells were separated. Plasma samples were tested for HIV-1 RNA genotyping drug resistance, while blood cell samples were tested for HIV-1 DNA genotyping drug resistance. Then, HIV-1 RNA and HIV-1 DNA genotyping drug resistance outcomes were compared. Among the 32 participants, 16 were males while 16 were females; with the median age of 34.5 years. The main HIV-1 infection route was heterosexual transmission. The median anti-retroviral therapy duration was 3.9 years. Two types of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) + one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) were the main antiviral therapeutic options. Pol region genes for 28 HIV-1 DNA samples and 10 HIV-1 RNA samples were successfully amplified. The success rate of pol region genes amplification for HIV-1 DNA was significantly higher than that of HIV-1 RNA (χ2 = 20.988, P < 0.05). In HIV-1 RNA and HIV-1 DNA samples, M184 (4/8) and K103 (3/8) were the most frequent drug resistance mutation sites. Among the NNRTIs, the rates of drug resistance were highest to EFV (6/8) and NVP (6/8) while among the NRTIs, the rates of drug resistance were highest to ABC (4/8), FTC (4/8) and 3TC (4/8). In conclusion, detection of HIV-1 RNA genotyping drug resistance combined with HIV-1 DNA genotyping drug resistance can improve the success rate of drug resistance detection in patients with low-level viremia.