New weapon for HIV drug resistance

New technology supports HIV-1 drug resistance surveillance in resource-limited countries

26-Jun-2014 - USA

ATCC has licensed technology from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific, to bring a rapid and cost- effective PCR-based method of monitoring HIV drug resistance to resource-limited countries. The ATCC® HIV-1 Drug Resistance Genotyping Kit was optimized for off-the-shelf detection, sequencing, and genotyping of HIV-1 genomic mutations more commonly observed in resource-limited countries, and was attuned to sample collection methods most often employed in developing countries, including dried blood spots. Together, with ongoing CDC programs to train scientists in geographically dispersed regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia, this collaboration serves to advance applied public health initiatives to understand the growing problem of HIV drug resistance and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.

While most would associate multidrug resistance with bacteria, such as MRSA, the long-term use of antiretrovirals to treat HIV has led to drug resistance against some of the newest and most powerful therapeutic combinations. Researchers and public health officials have made understanding the mode and transmission of resistant forms of HIV a top priority not only in the U.S., but also in countries that have limited access to routine testing. “More than 35 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, and drug resistance continues to confront people living with HIV,” said Dan Didier, director of public health, with Life Sciences Solutions, Thermo Fisher. “Through our partnership with the CDC and the ATCC we have been able to supply components for a surveillance system to understand the spread of drug resistant HIV throughout the African continent.”

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/148846/new-weapon-for-hiv-drug-resistance.html