%0 Journal Article %A Nii-Trebi, Nicholas Israel %A Brandful, James Ashun Mensah %A Ibe, Shiro %A Sugiura, Wataru %A Barnor, Jacob Samson %A Bampoh, Patrick Owiredu %A Yamaoka, Shoji %A Matano, Tetsuro %A Yoshimura, Kazuhisa %A Ishikawa, Koichi %A Ampofo, William Kwabena %T Dynamic HIV-1 genetic recombination and genotypic drug resistance among treatment-experienced adults in northern Ghana %D 2017 %J Journal of Medical Microbiology, %V 66 %N 11 %P 1663-1672 %@ 1473-5644 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000621 %K recombinant HIV-1 %K genotypic resistance %K molecular epidemiology %K Antiretroviral therapy %I Microbiology Society, %X Purpose. There have been hardly any reports on the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug-resistance profile from northern Ghana since antiretroviral therapy (ART) was introduced over a decade ago. This study investigated prevailing HIV-1 subtypes and examined the occurrence of drug resistance in ART-experienced patients in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was carried out on HIV-infected adult patients receiving first-line ART. HIV viral load (VL) and CD4+ T-cell counts were measured. The pol gene sequences were analysed for genotypic resistance by an in-house HIV-1 drug-resistance test; the prevailing HIV-1 subtypes were analysed in detail. Results/Key findings. A total of 33 subjects were studied. Participants comprised 11 males (33.3 %) and 22 (66.7 %) females, with a median age of 34.5 years [interquartile range (IQR) 30.0–40.3]. The median duration on ART was 12 months (IQR 8.0–24). Of the 24 subjects successfully genotyped, 10 (41.7 %) viruses possessed at least one mutation conferring resistance to nucleoside or non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs/NNRTIs). Two-class drug resistance to NRTI and NNRTI was mostly detected (25 %, 6/24). The most frequent mutations were lamivudine-resistance M184V and efavirenz/nevirapine-resistance K103N. HIV-1 subtype CRF02_AG was predominant (79.2 %). Other HIV-1 subtypes detected were G (8.3 %), A3 (4.2 %) and importantly two (8.3 %) unique HIV-1 recombinant forms with CRF02_AG/A3 mosaic. Conclusion. HIV-1 shows high genetic diversity and on-going viral genetic recombination in the study region. Nearly 42 % of the patients studied harboured a drug-resistant virus. The study underscores the need for continued surveillance of HIV-1 subtype diversity; and of drug-resistance patterns to guide selection of second-line regimens in northern Ghana. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000621