Mutations associated with zidovudine resistance in HIV-1 among recent seroconvertors

Although the reduction in susceptibility of HIV-1 to zidovudine (ZDV) due to mutations in the reverse transcriptase (RT) region of the pol gene is well established, the efficacy of combination therapies which include ZDV has ensured that the drug will continue to be widely used. However, it has been shown that transmission of HIV-1 strains carrying mutations associated with resistance to ZDV does occur. The spread of such variants within the HIV-1-infected population has serious implications, although their prevalence in recently infected populations is not well known.