Mutational profile in hiv-1 gag cleavage site correlated with phenotypic drug resistance

Abstract

The invention concerns novel mutations or mutational profiles of HIV-1 protease cleavage sites (CS) in the Gag region correlated with a phenotype causing alterations in sensitivity to anti-HIV drugs. The present invention also relates to the use of genotypic characterization of a target population of HIV and the subsequent association, i.e., correlation, of this information to phenotypic interpretation in order to correlate virus mutational profiles with drug resistance. The invention further relates to methods of utilizing the mutational profiles of the invention in databases, drug development, i.e., drug design, and drug modification, therapy and treatment design and clinical management.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vector for performing phenotypic analysis comprising an HIV sequence having at least one mutation E428G in the HIV gag gene, wherein the codon number of said E428G mutation corresponds to a wild type HIV IIIB/LAI reference sequence. 
     
     
         2 . A primer for use a PCR assay targeting a E482G mutation in an HIV-gag pol, wherein the codon number of said E428G mutation corresponds to a wild type HIV IIIB/LAI reference sequence.