Journal of Korean Medical Science, 2014, 01, 456─459

Characterization of Gp41 Polymorphisms in the Fusion Peptide Domain and T-20 (Enfuvirtide) Resistance-Associated Regions in Korean HIV-1 Isolates

Dai-Ho Jang, Cheol-Hee Yoon, B Choi, Y Chung,H Kim, S Chi,S Kim

Abstract

HIV-1 gp41 is an envelope protein that plays an essential role in virus entry. The mutation of gp41 affects HIV-1 entry and susceptibility to the fusion inhibitor T-20. Therefore, we analyzed the natural polymorphism of gp41 of 163 HIV-1 isolates from T-20-na？ve Koreans infected with HIV-1. This study of gp41 polymorphisms showed that insertions in the fourth threonine (74.8%) and L7M substitutions (85.3%) were more frequent in the fusion peptide motif in Korean HIV-1 isolates compared with those from other countries. Minor T-20 resistance mutations such as L45M (1.2%), N126K (1.2%), and E137K (6.7%) were detected, but the critical T-20 resistance mutations were not detected in the gp41 HR1 and HR2 regions. In addition, the N42S mutation (12.9%) associated with T-20 hypersusceptibility was detected at a high frequency. These results may serve as useful data for studies considering T-20 for use in the development of a more effective anti-retroviral treatment in Korea.

• ISBN or ISSN: 1011-8934

• 본 연구는 질병관리본부 연구개발과제(과제번호 2013-NG51004-00) 연구비를 지원받아 수행되었습니다.
• This research was supported by a fund(code 2013-NG51004-00) by Research of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.