Within a few weeks of treatment with the drug 3TC, a patient's HIV population consists entirely of 3TC-resistant viruses. How can this result best be explained?
A)HIV can change its surface proteins and resist vaccines.
B)The patient must have become reinfected with 3TC-resistant viruses.
C)HIV began making drug-resistant versions of reverse transcriptase in response to the drug.
D)A few drug-resistant viruses were present at the start of treatment, and natural selection increased their frequency.
E)The drug caused the HIV RNA to change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A few drug-resistant viruses were present at the start of treatment, and natural selection increased their frequency, leading to a population of resistant viruses.

Within a Few Weeks of Treatment with the Drug 3TC