DETECTION OF DRUG-RESISTANCE MUTATIONS IN THE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 (HIV-1) POL GENE - DIFFERENCES IN SEMEN AND BLOOD HIV-1 RNA AND PROVIRAL DNA

Different tissues or body fluids in which human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can reside may contain viruses with distinct character istics. Sixteen HIV-1-infected patients receiving zidovudine or didano sine were studied cross-sectionally and 1 patient who switched from zi dovudine to didanosine was followed sequentially to determine if drug resistance mutations within the HIV-1 pol gene at codons 74 and 215 di ffered depending on the compartment from which the gene was isolated ( plasma, seminal fluid, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or seminal nonspermatozoal mononuclear cells). Cell-free virus in plasma and seme n developed detectable mutations first, followed by proviral DNA in se minal nonspermatozoal and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Study of the appearance of HIV-1 mutations in various compartments may help el ucidate how the populations and dynamics of the virus differ throughou t the body and determine whether seminal cell-free virus or provirus i s the major sexually transmitted form.