HIV-1 p24 antigen, HIV-1 protease and expression of HIV-1 Gag-Pol genes amongst HIV-1 Infected individuals in Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Nigeria.

This study is aimed at expressing HIV-1 Pol and Gag genes in the monitoring of HIV-1 patients on HAART in Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria, that randomly recruited 75 participants within the age range of 18 and 65 years with a population- based sample of males and females divided into three groups designated A to C; comprising of 25 HIV-1 seropositive individuals on HAART (TDF + 3TC + EFV) designated as group A, 25 HIV-1 seropositive individuals on HAART (AZT + 3TC +NVP) designated as group B, and 25 HAART naïve HIV-1 seropositive individuals designated as control group C. Blood samples were taken and analyzed using ELISA for p24 antigen, HIV-1 protease and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for HIV-1 Gag-Pol genes. The PCR products were analyzed on 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. Data were analyzed using SPSS software application (version 25.0) and expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. The results showed a significant difference in p24 antigen and HIV-1 protease in group A (9.64 ± 5.34 and 5.48 ± 6.62) when compared to control (16.3 ± 3.68 and 26.68 ± 11.71) (p<0.05). There was also a significant difference in p24 antigen and HIV-1 protease in group B (13.01 ± 5.19 and 20.47 ±7.53) when compared to control (16.3 ± 3.68 and 26.68 ± 11.71) (p<0.05). The gene expression of HIV-1 Pol is broadly expressed compared to the HIV-1 Gag gene expression. The negative Gag expression could be due to decrease in p24 antigen as the antibody increases.