The Open Virology Journal

2008, 2 : 8-14
Published online 2008 March 18. DOI: 10.2174/1874357900802010008
Publisher ID: TOVJ-2-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Minor Variant Detection at Different Template Concentrations in HIV-1 Phenotypic and Genotypic Tropism Testing

Ina Vandenbroucke, * , Veerle Van Eygen , Evelien Rondelez , Hans Vermeiren , Kurt Van Baelen and Lieven J Stuyver
Virco BVBA, Generaal De Wittelaan L11 B4, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium

* Address correspondence to this author at Virco BVBA, Generaal De Wittelaan L11B4, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium; Tel: +32 15 461 486; Fax: +32 15 285 634; E-mail: ivanden3@vrcbe.jnj.com

ABSTRACT

The clinical trials of maraviroc showed that treatment failure was mostly associated with lack of X4 virus detection at baseline. The detection limit for X4 in tropism assays is ill defined around 10%. In the current study, quantification of X4-tropic minority populations was assessed on artificial mixed samples and 38 clinical isolates. These mixtures were subjected to tropism “clonal genotyping” or “population phenotyping”. The detection of minority variants was dependant on the input of amplifiable copies. At VL > 4 log IU/ml, X4 quantification was deemed reliable. PCR founder effect and clonal resampling might result in misrepresentation of the minority species concentration at VL < 4 log. Fourteen of the clinical isolates contained dual/mixed X4-tropic virus, 5 of which were below 10% of the virus population. Currently, there is no indication what level of X4 would lead to treatment failure. Assays aiming for the detection of minority species should express results in function of VL.