Boosting immunity by antiviral drug therapy: a simple relationship among timing, efficacy, and success.

ABSTRACT: Drug therapies against persistent human infections such as hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV fail to consistently eradicate the infection from the host. Hence, recent emphasis has shifted to the study of antiviral therapy aimed at boosting specific immune responses. It was argued that structured therapy interruptions were required to achieve this, because such regimes have shown promising results in early HIV infection. Using mathematical models, we show that, contrary to this notion, a single phase of drug therapy can result in the establishment of sustained immunity. We present a simple relationship between timing of therapy and efficacy of the drugs required for success. In the presence of strong viral suppression, we show that therapy should be stopped relatively early, and

SUBMITTER: Komarova NL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC149923 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature