| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Manuscript | | Title: Are all subtypes created equal? The effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy against non-subtype B HIV-1. | | Authors: Kosakovsky Pond SL, Smith DM | | Year: 2009 | | Publication: Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication of The Infectious Diseases Society of America | | Volume: 48 Issue: 9 Pages: 1306-1309 | | Abstract:Currently, 24 active antiretroviral agents
are available for use in the United States.
These agents target and interrupt an array
of HIV functions, including reverse transcription,
proteolysis, envelope fusion, and
integration [1]. When used in a variety of
combinations, these agents have greatly reduced
the morbidity and mortality associated
with natural HIV infection in the
United States [2]. In this issue of Clinical
Infectious Diseases, Geretti et al. [3] demonstrate
in an observational study that
modern combination antiretroviral therapy
works, even when the infecting virus
is non–subtype B HIV-1. Specifically, this
study examined the rates of viral suppression
with antiretroviral therapy during
infection with subtypes A, C, and D and
with the circulating recombinant form
(CRF) 02_AG. This is important, because
modern antiretroviral therapy was developed
on the basis of investigations of subtype
B HIV-1 infection, even though this
subtype accounts for only 12% of worldwide
infections and is almost nonexistent
in many regions [4]. |
return to publications listing
|