Variable effect of co-infection on the HIV infectivity: within-host dynamics and epidemiological significance.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent studies have implicated viral characteristics in accounting for the variation in the HIV set-point viral load (spVL) observed among individuals. These studies have suggested that the spVL might be a heritable factor. The spVL, however, is not in an absolute equilibrium state; it is frequently perturbed by immune activations generated by co-infections, resulting in a significant amplification of the HIV viral load (VL). Here, we postulated that if the HIV replication capacity were an important determinant of the spVL, it would also determine the effect of co-infection on the VL. Then, we hypothesized that viral factors contribute to the variation of the effect of co-infection and introduce variation among individuals.

Methods

We developed a within-host deter

SUBMITTER: Cuadros DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3337224 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature