In vivo evidence for instability of episomal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 cDNA.

ABSTRACT: Current regimens for the management of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection suppress plasma viremia to below detectable levels for prolonged intervals. Nevertheless, there is a rapid resumption in plasma viremia if therapy is interrupted. Attempts to characterize the extent of viral replication under conditions of potent suppression and undetectable plasma viremia have been hampered by a lack of convenient assays that can distinguish latent from ongoing viral replication. Using episomal viral cDNA as a surrogate for ongoing replication, we previously presented evidence that viral replication persists in the majority of infected individuals with a sustained aviremic status. The labile nature of viral episomes and hence their validity as surrogate markers of ongoing replicat

SUBMITTER: Sharkey M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1069538 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature