To Establish a Novel and Rapid Phenotypic HIV-1 Drug Resistance Testing System

Professor Chen, Zhiwei   (Project Coordinator (PC))

Dr Liu Li   (Co-Investigator)

Dr Cheung Ka Wai   (Co-Investigator)

Mr Du David Yanhua   (Co-Investigator)

24

2013-07-01

1001930

To Establish a Novel and Rapid Phenotypic HIV-1 Drug Resistance Testing System

Novel and Rapid Phenotypic HIV-1 Drug Resistance

Others - Medicine, Dentistry and Health

GHX/013/11SZ

Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme

2013

Completed

The ultimate goal is to establish a safe, rapid, high-throughput, and cost effective phenotypic human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) drug resistance testing system for clinical application. Based on an established phenotypic drug resistance assay using recombinant virus (pseudovirus) as mentioned previously(reference), we designed a new construct of pseudovirus designated as pHIVHN by our own. In general, we will insert some of the drug resistant fragments designed by ourselves into our reporter gene carrying pHIVHN to evaluate our system. If the fragment inserted are resistant to the drug tested, a fluorescent signal will be generated and can be detected by our own instrument. To validate our system, we will repeat the procedures using clinical samples. Nowadays, there are four classes of HIV-1 drugs available for ART and the method we proposed here is able to cover all these drugs. As more and more new drugs emerged, another advantage for this testing system is that this system is readily useful for testing drug resistance towards newly introduced drug. In fact, since both Hong Kong and ShenZhen is lacking this service, development of an accurate and effective resistance testing system is urged to help avoid treatment failure and prevention of HIV-1 transmission. This technology, once implanted can improve HIV clinical treatment and prevention in Hong Kong and surrounding regions.