Les paramètres pharmacocinétiques du cabotegravir et de la rilpivirine injectables sont peu connus, malgré leur impact sur le risque d'échec virologique. L'objectif était de déterminer les concentrations résiduelles de cabotegravir et rilpivirine chez les patients initiant ce traitement, et les facteurs de risque pour des concentrations basses. Nous avons inclus de façon prospective tous les patients débutant un traitement par cabotegravir et rilpivirine injectables dans deux hôpitaux universitaires. Pour être éligibles, les patients devaient avoir une charge virale VIH < 50 copies/mL depuis au moins 6 mois, ne pas avoir de résistance majeure aux INI ou INNTI (sauf K103N), et être immunisés contre le virus de l'hépatite B. Une phase d'instauration orale (cabotegravir 30 mg et rilpivirine 25 mg par jour durant 4 semaines) était réalisée dans un seul centre, et les injections intramusculaires de cabotegravir 600 mg et rilpivirine 900 mg étaient administrées à la première visite, à 4 et à 12 semaines, avec dosage de la charge virale VIH et des taux plasmatiques résiduels de cabotegravir et rilpivirine. Une concentration basse était définie à 1120 ng/mL pour le cabotegravir et 32 ng/mL pour la rilpivirine (premiers quartiles dans les essais), et nous avons étudié l'impact de l'âge, du sexe, de l'origine, de l'IMC et de la phase d'instauration orale sur le risque d'avoir un taux bas. Du 1er mars 2022 au 31 janvier 2023, 58 patients ont été inclus, avec 51 hommes (87.9%), et un âge médian de 31 ans. La plupart (43, 74.1%) étaient des hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec des hommes, 13 (22.4%) étaient hétérosexuels et 2 (3.4%) avaient une toxicomanie intraveineuse. Cinq (8.6%) avaient un IMC ≥30 kg/m2. La plupart (35, 60.3%) avait un sous-type viral B et 2 (3.4%) avaient un sous-type à risque d'échec (A1). La durée médiane d'indétectabilité du VIH était de 8 ans et le taux médian de CD4 était 694/mm3. Avec un suivi médian à 36 semaines, nous avons observé un échec (1.7%), deux arrêts pour douleur (3.4%), et un décès (1.7%) non lié au traitement. Les taux résiduels médians de cabotegravir étaient 976 ng/mL (IQR 706 – 1434) à S4 et 701 ng/mL (IQR 440 – 1087) à S12, avec respectivement 35 (60.3%) et 43/56 (76.8%) patients sous le seuil de 1120ng/mL. Les taux résiduels médians de rilpivirine étaient 48 ng/mL (IQR 29 – 66) à S4 et 43 ng/mL (IQR 32 – 55) à S12, avec respectivement 16 (27.6%) et 15/56 (26.8%) patients sous le seuil de 32 ng/mL. Les facteurs de risque identifiés pour une concentration basse de cabotegravir étaient l'IMC (p=0.009 à S4) et la phase d'instauration orale (p=0.02 à S4, p=0.03 à S12), aucun n'était significatif pour la rilpivirine. Le patient en échec (charge virale VIH à 2820 copies/mL à S4) n'avait pas de mutation de résistance mais un IMC à 29.4 kg/m2, et des taux de cabotegravir et rilpivirine respectivement à 28 et 701 ng/mL à S4. Devant le risque de concentration faible de cabotegravir, nos données sont en faveur d'une phase d'instauration orale, en particulier chez les patients avec un IMC ≥30 kg/m2. Aucun lien d'intérêt

ObjectivesThe hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic is evolving quickly despite new treatments, and due to behaviour changes increasing at-risk situations. We investigated potential origins and evolution of the HCV-4d French emergence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), in Paris in 2003.MethodsWe analysed all HCV sequences from the initial Paris outbreak with all newly available sequences publicly available, including sampling date and geographical location, resulting in 184, 68, 156, 107, 13 and 2 sequences from France, The Netherlands, other European countries, Africa, the Middle East or Turkey, Americas and Asia, respectively. Phylogenetic reconstruction was performed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches.ResultsHCV-4d sequences from Europe were strongly separated from non-European sequences. Sequences from the initial Paris outbreak were all included into two well-separated and supported clusters with branch support at 100%, mean genetic distance <2.8 substitutions/100 nucleotides and >3.4 substitutions/100 nucleotides between their common ancestor and the previous node. The largest cluster interleaved French (n = 98) and Dutch (n = 28) sequences, suggesting several translocations between these countries. This cluster included 41 French sequences from Lyon sampled after 2014, highlighting its continuous spread within France since the initial outbreak. The smallest cluster included one Paris sequence with UK sequences (n = 9).DiscussionA few previous works have shown HCV-4d transmissions occurring between a few countries. In our work, we suggest a new and large connection between France and The Netherlands MSM communities and highlight a well-separated pan-European transmission network. Large collaborative networks are needed to investigate ongoing transmissions across countries and help specific prevention measures.

Background and Aims Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients are at high risk of metabolic complications and liver-related events, which are both associated with hepatic steatosis and its progressive form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a known risk factor for mortality. The fatty liver index (FLI), a noninvasive steatosis biomarker, has recently drawn attention for its clinical prognostic value, although its capacity to predict mortality risk in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients has never been investigated. Using a Cox proportional hazards model for mortality from all causes, with data from the French National Agency for Research on Aids and Viral Hepatitis CO13 HEPAVIH cohort (983 patients, 4,432 visits), we tested whether elevated FLI (>= 60) was associated with all-cause mortality. Approach and Results After multiple adjustment, individuals with FLI >= 60 had almost double the risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.91 [1.17-3.12], P = 0.009), independently of the following factors: HCV cure (0.21 [0.07-0.61], P = 0.004), advanced fibrosis (1.77 [1.00-3.14], P = 0.05), history of hepatocellular carcinoma and/or liver transplantation (7.74 [3.82-15.69], P < 10(-3)), history of indirect clinical signs of cirrhosis (2.80 [1.22-6.41], P = 0.015), and HIV Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clinical stage C (2.88 [1.74-4.79], P < 10(-3)). Conclusions An elevated FLI (>= 60) is a risk factor for all-cause mortality in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients independently of liver fibrosis and HCV cure. In the present era of nearly 100% HCV cure rates thanks to direct-acting antivirals, these findings encourage the more systematic use of noninvasive steatosis biomarkers to help identify coinfected patients with higher mortality risk.

Background: Ending the HIV pandemic must involve new tools to rapidly identify and control local outbreaks and prevent the emergence of recombinant strains with epidemiological advantages. Aim: This observational study aimed to investigate in France a cluster of HIV-1 cases related to a new circulating recombinant form (CRF). The confirmation this CRF's novelty as well as measures to control its spread are presented. Methods: Phylogenetic analyses of HIV sequences routinely generated for drug resistance genotyping before 2018 in French laboratories were employed to detect the transmission chain. The CRF involved was characterised by almost full-length viral sequencing for six cases. Cases' clinical data were reviewed. Where possible, epidemiological information was collected with a questionnaire. Results: The transmission cluster comprised 49 cases, mostly diagnosed in 2016-2017 (n=37). All were infected with a new CRF, CRF94_cpx. The The molecular proximity of this CRF to X4 strains and the high median viraemia, exceeding 5.0 log(10) copies/ ml., at diagnosis, even in chronic infection, raise concerns of enhanced virulence. Overall, 41 cases were diagnosed in the Ile-de-France region and 45 were men who have sex with men. Among 24 cases with available information, 20 reported finding partners through a geosocial networking app. Prevention activities in the area and population affected were undertaken. Conclusion: We advocate the systematic use of routinely generated HIV molecular data by a dedicated reactive network, to improve and accelerate targeted prevention interventions. Geosocial networking apps can play a role in the spread of outbreaks, but could also deliver local targeted preventive alerts.

BACKGROUND:The association between liver stiffness measurements (LSM) and mortality has not been fully described. In particular the effect of LSM on all-cause mortality taking sustained virological response (SVR) into account needs further study. METHODS:HIV/HCV participants in the French nation-wide, prospective, multicenter ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort, with ≥1 LSM by FibroScan (FS) and a detectable HCV RNA when the first valid FS was performed were included. Cox proportional hazards models with delayed entry were performed to determine factors associated with all-cause mortality. LSM and SVR were considered as time dependent covariates. RESULTS:1,062 patients were included from 2005 to 2015 (69.8% men, median age 45.7 years (IQR 42.4-49.1)). 21.7% had baseline LSM >12.5 kPa. Median follow-up was 4.9 years (IQR 3.2-6.1). 727 (68.5%) were ever treated for HCV: 189 of them (26.0%) achieved SVR. 76 deaths were observed (26 liver-related, 10 HIV-related, 29 non-liver-non-HIV-related, 11 of unknown cause). At the age of 50, the mortality rate was 4.5% for patients with LSM ≤12.5 kPa and 10.8% for patients with LSM >12.5 kPa. LSM >12.5 kPa (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] = 3.35 [2.06; 5.45], p<0.0001), history of HCV treatment (aHR = 0.53 [0.32; 0.90], p = 0.01) and smoking (past (aHR = 5.69 [1.56; 20.78]) and current (3.22 [0.93; 11.09]) versus never, p = 0.01) were associated with all-cause mortality independently of SVR, age, sex, alcohol use and metabolic disorders. CONCLUSION:Any LSM >12.5 kPa was strongly associated with all-cause mortality independently of SVR and other important covariates. Our results suggest that close follow-up of these patients should remain a priority even after achieving SVR.

Abstract The MOBIDIP trial evaluated the simplification by protease (PI/r) monotherapy for HIV infection versus dual therapy and boosted protease inhibitor plus lamivudine (PI/r + 3TC) in controlled patients under second-line regimens. MOBIDIP was interrupted because of a significant number of patients with virological failure (VF) at week 48 (W48) in PI/r (33/133, ∼25%) versus in PI/r + 3TC (4/132, ∼3%). At the time of first-line VF, 96 per cent of patients harbored the M184V mutation. The presence of the M184V mutation was related to a protective effect against VF in the PI/r + 3TC arm. We developed a methodology that allows to determine the frequency of M184V/I mutations in the HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained before MOBIDIP simplification. Paired-end sequences were obtained from 252 PBMC samples covering the first 855 bp of the RT gene (HXB2: 2485–3405) by MiSeq technology. These sequences were subjected to an in-house Bioinformatics pipeline. The results of our pipeline were compared to the output of PASeq (https://www.paseq.org), an open web-tool for the identification of drug resistance mutations. The M184V mutation was identified at a frequency greater than 1 per cent in 178 individuals (∼71%). The M184I mutation was observed in 34 patients (∼13%), always in the presence of stop codons, and is in agreement with expectations, as this mutation is a known APOBEC-targeted site. Sixty-seven patients (∼27%) had a frequency of the M184V mutation with values greater than 75 per cent. PASeq confirmed the presence of M184V mutation in 173 patients. The frequencies estimated by the PASeq tool and in-house pipeline were correlated up to 99.5 per cent. We found a significant loss of the M184V mutation archived in PBMC between the first-line regimen treatment failure and the beginning of the MOBIDIP trial. In patients under long-term antiretroviral therapy, as in our case, viral sub-populations could be lost, reducing the presence, and frequency of a mutation. In the next step, we will evaluate the association between the presence and frequency of M184V mutation and MOBIDIP results.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infections are associated with higher risk of autoimmune diseases and T-cell dysfunction. Setting: We evaluate prevalence and factors associated with the presence of autoimmune antinuclear (ANA), anti-smooth muscle actin (aSMA), and anti-liver kidney microsome (aLKM1) antibodies (Ab) in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients during the post-combined antiretroviral therapy era. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study nested in the ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort (NCT number: NCT03324633). We selected patients with both ANA testing and T-cell immunophenotyping determination during the cohort follow-up and collected aLKM1 and aSMA data when available. Logistic regression models were built to determine factors associated with the presence of autoAb. Results: Two hundred twenty-three HCV/HIV-coinfected patients fulfilled selection criteria. Prevalence of ANA and aSMA was 43.5% and 23.2%, respectively, and both were detected in 13.3% of patients. Isolated aSMA were detected in 9.9% and aLKM1 in 2 patients. In multivariable analysis, only a low nadir CD4 T-cell count was significantly associated with ANA detection. Conclusions: ANA and aSMA detection remain frequent in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients during the post-combined antiretroviral therapy era, despite fair immune restoration. These results advocate for a close monitoring of ANA before immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in these patients with greater caution for those with a low nadir CD4 T-cell count.

Objectives Although common among patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), sleep disturbances (SD) are still poorly documented in this population in the HCV cure era. This longitudinal study aimed at analysing SD in HIV-HCV coinfected patients and identifying their clinical and sociobehavioural correlates. Methods We used 5-year annual follow-up data from 1047 participants in the French National Agency for Research on Aids and Viral Hepatitis Cohort 13 'Hepatite et VIH' (ANRS C013 HEPAVIH) cohort of HIV-HCV coinfected patients to identify clinical (medical records) and behavioural (self-administered questionnaires) correlates of SD (mixed-effects logistic regression). SD were identified using one item documenting the occurrence of insomnia or difficulty falling asleep (ANRS 'Action Coordonnee 24' self-reported symptoms checklist), and two items documenting perceived sleep quality (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression and WHO Quality of Life HIV-specific brief scales). Results Seven hundred and sixteen (68.4%) patients with completed self-administered questionnaires reported SD at their most recent follow-up visit. In the multivariable model, hazardous alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption score 4 for men, 3 for women) (adjusted odds ratio =1.61; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-2.36), depressive symptoms (6.78; 4.36-10.55) and the number of other physical and psychological self-reported symptoms (1.10; 1.07-1.13) were associated independently with SD after adjustment for sex, age and employment status. HCV cure was not associated significantly with SD. Conclusion SD remain frequent in HIV-HCV coinfected patients and are associated with a series of modifiable behavioural risk factors. independent of HCV cure, improved screening and comprehensive management of alcohol use, physical and psychological self-reported symptoms and depression are essential in this population. Closer investigation of these risk factors of SDs may both increase sleep quality and indirectly improve patients' clinical outcomes. Copyright (C) 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES:We estimated the prevalence of transmitted-drug-resistance-associated mutations (TDRAMs) in antiretroviral-naive chronically HIV-1-infected patients.PATIENTS AND METHODS:TDRAMs were sought in samples from 660 diagnosed HIV-1-infected individuals in 2015/2016 in 33 HIV clinical centres. Weighted analyses, considering the number of patients followed in each centre, were used to derive representative estimates of the percentage of individuals with TDRAMs. Results were compared with those of the 2010/2011 survey (n = 661) using the same methodology.RESULTS:At inclusion, median CD4 cell counts and plasma HIV-1 RNA were 394 and 350/mm3 (P = 0.056) and 4.6 and 4.6 log10 copies/mL (P = 0.360) in the 2010/2011 survey and the 2015/2016 survey, respectively. The frequency of non-B subtypes increased from 42.9% in 2010/2011 to 54.8% in 2015/2016 (P < 0.001), including 23.4% and 30.6% of CRF02_AG (P = 0.004). The prevalence of virus with protease or reverse-transcriptase TDRAMs was 9.0% (95% CI = 6.8-11.2) in 2010/2011 and 10.8% (95% CI = 8.4-13.2) in 2015/2016 (P = 0.269). No significant increase was observed in integrase inhibitor TDRAMs (6.7% versus 9.2%, P = 0.146). Multivariable analysis showed that men infected with the B subtype were the group with the highest risk of being infected with a resistant virus compared with others (adjusted OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3-3.9).CONCLUSIONS:In France in 2015/2016, the overall prevalence of TDRAMs was 10.8% and stable compared with 9.0% in the 2010/2011 survey. Non-B subtypes dramatically increased after 2010. Men infected with B subtype were the group with the highest risk of being infected with a resistant virus, highlighting the need to re-emphasize safe sex messages.

Background:Atazanavir is a PI widely used as a third agent in combination ART. We aimed to determine the prevalence and the patterns of resistance in PI-naive patients failing on an atazanavir-based regimen.Methods:We analysed patients failing on an atazanavir-containing regimen used as a first line of PI therapy. We compared the sequences of reverse transcriptase and protease before the introduction of atazanavir and at failure [two consecutive viral loads (VLs) >50 copies/mL]. Resistance was defined according to the 2014 Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA et les Hépatites Virales (ANRS) algorithm.Results:Among the 113 patients, atazanavir was used in the first regimen in 71 (62.8%) patients and in the first line of a PI-based regimen in 42 (37.2%). Atazanavir was boosted with ritonavir in 95 (84.1%) patients and combined with tenofovir/emtricitabine or lamivudine (n = 81) and abacavir/lamivudine or emtricitabine (n = 22). At failure, median VL was 3.05 log10 copies/mL and the median CD4+ T cell count was 436 cells/mm3. The median time on atazanavir was 21.2 months. At failure, viruses were considered resistant to atazanavir in four patients (3.5%) with the selection of the following major atazanavir-associated mutations: I50L (n = 1), I84V (n = 2) and N88S (n = 1). Other emergent PI mutations were L10V, G16E, K20I/R, L33F, M36I/L, M46I/L, G48V, F53L, I54L, D60E, I62V, A71T/V, V82I/T, L90M and I93L/M. Emergent NRTI substitutions were detected in 21 patients: M41L (n = 2), D67N (n = 3), K70R (n = 1), L74I/V (n = 3), M184V/I (n = 16), L210W (n = 1), T215Y/F (n = 3) and K219Q/E (n = 2).Conclusions:Resistance to atazanavir is rare in patients failing the first line of an atazanavir-based regimen according to the ANRS. Emergent NRTI resistance-associated mutations were reported in 18% of patients.

BACKGROUND:HIV-1 viral load testing is now recommended by the World Health Organization for every patient receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).OBJECTIVES:The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of commercial assays for their ability to quantify HIV-1 strains currently circulating in France.STUDY DESIGN:The performances of the Generic HIV-RNA assay from Biocentric were compared to those of the Roche CAP/CTM v1.5, Roche CAP/CTM v2.0 and Abbott m2000 RealTime HIV-1 assays. A total of 1885 HIV-1 plasma samples were tested, including 684 samples from patients included in the ANRS-Primo Cohort.RESULTS:We found a good concordance of quantification between the Roche v2.0 and the Biocentric assays, both of which were superior to the Roche v1.5 assay. We show moderate agreement between techniques; however, CRF02_AG strains and undetermined viruses were underestimated when quantified with the Roche CAP/CTM v2.0. In contrast, a comparison of the Biocentric and Abbott assay results showed strong agreement between assays, indicating that both are well suited for quantification of CRF02_AG strains. Moreover, a 2% underestimation of the B subtypes was observed with the Biocentric assay.CONCLUSIONS:These results have implications for viral load monitoring in Western Africa, where CRF02_AG strains are highly prevalent. Closer epidemiological surveillance and evaluation of commercial assays are still necessary to better evaluate the impact of the genetic evolution of circulating viruses on HIV-RNA quantification in the regions most affected by the HIV-1 epidemic.

Toute interruption de traitement antirétroviral (ITA) conduit au rebond de la réplication du VIH dans le sang et dans le sperme, avec une dynamique peu connue dans le compartiment génital. Notre objectif était de comparer la cinétique et le niveau d’ARN-VIH dans le plasma sanguin (PS) et le liquide séminal (LS), et de caractériser les populations virales au rebond dans les deux compartiments après une ITA programmée dans le cadre d’un essai vaccinal thérapeutique. Dix participants à l’essai vaccinal VRI02/ANRS149-LIGHT (lymphocytes CD4 ≥ 600/mm3 et ARN-VIH < 50 cp/mL depuis au moins 18 mois) ont été inclus, avec ITA de S36 à S48. Des échantillons de sang et de sperme étaient collectés à S32 (avant l’ITA) puis à S36, S38, S40, S44 et S48, pour quantifier l’ADN- et l’ARN-VIH. Le séquençage à haut débit (UDS, Roche/454) des séquences ADN et ARN de la région C2V3 du gène env a été réalisé chez 5 patients sur 10, dans les PBMC avant l’ITA, dans les PS, LS et PBMC pendant l’ITA. Les séquences obtenues ont été filtrées sur la qualité et compilées en haplotypes. Les patients avaient une charge virale plasmatique < 50 cp/mL depuis 44 mois en médiane (max : 28–152) avant l’ITA. Tous ont présenté un rebond de l’ARN-VIH dans le PS et le LS après l’ITA (médiane 5,12 log10 cp/mL [max : 4,61–6,35] et 4,26 log10 cp/mL [max : 3,20–4,67], respectivement). Ce rebond était observé dès S38 dans le PS chez 8/10 patients et entre S38 et S40 dans le LS chez 8/10 patients. Le niveau d’ADN-VIH était de 2,97 log10 cp/106 PBMC (max : 1,61–3,26) à S32 et 3,30 log10 cp/106 PBMC (max : 2,50–3,67) à S44. L’ADN-VIH était détecté dans les cellules rondes du sperme dans au moins un échantillon chez 6/10 patients. L’analyse phylogénétique après UDS montrait que : – les populations d’ARN-VIH au rebond dans le PS et le dans LS avaient pour origine l’ADN-VIH des PBMC détecté avant l’ITA ; – les populations d’ARN-VIH étaient proches/similaires dans le PS et dans le LS sans argument pour une compartimentation. Un rebond de l’ARN-VIH rapide et intense était observé chez tous les patients dans le sang et dans le sperme, après l’ITA. Des stratégies préventives ciblées sont nécessaires pour réduire le risque de transmission sexuelle au cours des ITA. L’ADN-VIH isolé à partir des PBMC est la source principale d’ARN-VIH dans les deux compartiments (sang et sperme), même après plusieurs années de contrôle virologique.

Background:Surveillance of HIV-1 resistance in treated patients with a detectable viral load (VL) is important to monitor, in order to assess the risk of spread of resistant viruses and to determine the proportion of patients who need new antiretroviral drugs with minimal cross-resistance.Methods:The HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase genes were sequenced in plasma samples from 782 consecutive patients on failing antiretroviral regimens, seen in 37 specialized centres in 2014. The genotyping results were interpreted using the ANRS v24 algorithm. Prevalence rates were compared with those obtained during a similar survey conducted in 2009.Results:The protease and RT sequences were obtained in 566 patients, and the integrase sequence in 382 patients. Sequencing was successful in 60%, 78%, 78% and 87% of patients with VLs of 51-200, 201-500, 501-1000 and >1000 copies/mL, respectively. Resistance to at least one antiretroviral drug was detected in 56.3% of samples. Respectively, 3.9%, 8.7%, 1.5% and 3.4% of patients harboured viruses that were resistant to any NRTI, NNRTI, PI and integrase inhibitor (INI). Resistance rates were lower in 2014 than in 2009. Resistance was detected in 48.5% of samples from patients with a VL between 51 and 200 copies/mL.Conclusion:In France in 2014, 90.0% of patients in AIDS care centres were receiving antiretroviral drugs and 12.0% of them had VLs >50 copies/mL. Therefore, this study suggests that 6.7% of treated patients in France might transmit resistant strains. Resistance testing may be warranted in all treated patients with VL > 50 copies/mL.

We report the near-full-length genome sequence of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolate from a man originating from Democratic Republic of Congo, the genotype of which could not be determined by the routinely used sequencing technique. The near-complete genome sequence of this variant BAK1 was obtained by the association of two next-generation sequencing technologies. Evolutionary analysis indicates that this isolate, BAK1, could be the first reported strain belonging to a new HCV-7b subtype. This new subtype has been incorrectly identified as genotype 2 by the Versant HCV Genotype 2.0 assay (LiPA). The requirement of three independent isolates has been filled, and a new subtype can be assigned. More examples of HCV-7 are required to better understand its origin, its pathogenicity and its relationship with genotype 2.

Objective: PI susceptibility results from a complex interplay between protease and Gag proteins, with Gag showing wide variation across HIV-1 subtypes. We explored the impact of pre-treatment susceptibility on the outcome of lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy.Methods: Treatment-naive individuals who experienced lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy failure from the MONARK studywere matched (by subtype, viral load and baseline CD4 count) with those who achieved virological response ('successes'). Successes were defined by viral load <400 copies/mL after week 24 and,50 copies/mL from week 48 to week 96. Full-length Gag-protease was amplified from patient samples for in vitro phenotypic susceptibility testing, with susceptibility expressed as fold change (FC) relative to a subtype B reference strain.Results: Baseline lopinavir susceptibility was lower in viral failures compared with viral successes, but the differences were not statistically significant (median lopinavir susceptibility: 4.4 versus 8.5, respectively, P = 0.17). Among CRF02_AG/G patients, there was a significant difference in lopinavir susceptibility between the two groups (7.1 versus 10.4, P = 0.047), while in subtype B the difference was not significant (2.7 versus 3.4, P = 0.13). Subtype CRF02_AG/G viruses had a median lopinavir FC of 8.7 compared with 3.1 for subtype B (P = 0.001).Conclusions: We report an association between reduced PI susceptibility (using full-length Gag-protease sequences) at baseline and subsequent virological failure on lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy in antiretroviral-naive patients harbouring subtype CRF02_AG/G viruses. We speculate that this may be important in the context of suboptimal adherence in determining viral failure.

Scarce data exist on allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) outcomes in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-naïve recipients from HBV-experienced donors. Long-term follow-up is herein reported for 17 allogeneic HSCT performed in 13 HBV-naïve children from HBc-antibodies-positive donors between 2006 and 2012. Four donors were HBs-antigen-positive, with detectable but low viremia in 2 cases (<2 log10IU/ml). HBV-DNA was undetectable in all transplanted cell products. Recipients’ HBV prophylaxis consisted of pre-transplant vaccination, polyvalent immune globulins, specific anti-HBV immune globulins, and/or oral lamivudine in 3, 12, 8, and 8 children, respectively. No case of HBV transmission occurred based on negative close monitoring of recipients’ HBV serology and plasma HBV-DNA during a median follow-up of 22 months. In case of undetectable viremia in the donor, prophylaxis with vaccination and/or immune globulins in the recipient seems to be sufficient and lamivudine prophylaxis might be unnecessary to prevent viral transmission. In case of undetectable viremia in the donor, a systematic screening of HBV DNA in the stem cell product might be unnecessary to confirm the low risk of viral transmission. Prior exposure to HBV in the donor should not be considered a contraindication to HSCT.