María Angélica Zuluaga Castillo

María Angélica Zuluaga Castillo

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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25 June 2026 in Viruses
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CCChristian Cadena Cruz
Christian Cadena Cruz
MAMarcio Andres DE AVILA
Marcio Andres DE AVILA
FGFabio Guzmán
Fabio Guzmán
MPMariana Pérez
Mariana Pérez
MCMaría Angélica Zuluaga Castillo
María Angélica Zuluaga Castillo
JCJose Luis Villarreal Camacho
Jose Luis Villarreal Camacho
Background: Antiretroviral resistance-associated mutations, within the broader context of HIV-1 genetic variability, represent a growing challenge for HIV-1 control, highlighting the need for continuous molecular surveillance and mechanistic understanding of drug resistance. This study aimed to characterize mutations in the pol gene associated with resistance to protease inhibitors and to explore their structural implications. Methods: Viral RNA was extracted from plasma samples of HIV-positive patients, and a 266 bp fragment of the HIV-1 pol gene was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced using the Sanger method. Sequences showing ≥98% homology were aligned and analyzed using MEGA v11 and the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database to identify resistance-associated mutations, while viral subtypes were determined using COMET, jpHMM-HIV, and STAR tools. Amino acid sequences were used for structural modeling with AlphaFold, followed by molecular docking with Nelfinavir using the CB-Dock2 server. Results: Four samples exhibited resistance-associated profiles, including high-level, intermediate, and low-level resistance, with one isolate showing high-level resistance to multiple protease inhibitors. Structural analyses revealed that Nelfinavir preferentially binds to alternative hydrophobic cavities rather than the canonical catalytic site, lacking direct interactions with the Asp25/Asp25′ dyad. Conclusions: These findings suggest a structural mechanism of resistance based on non-canonical ligand binding that may impair effective protease inhibition.