Molecular monitoring of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.
Over the past few years, considerable technical effort has been directed to developing molecular methods that would allow an effective approach to the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and its monitoring. Indeed, quantitative molecular techniques have opened the way for a new type of direct study of untreated and treated HIV-1 infected subjects. The understanding of the immunopathogenesis of HIV-1 infection has increased significantly with the introduction of advanced virological and molecular methods for accurate quantitative analysis of HIV-1 activity; powerful methodologies answer (directly and in real time) most questions generated by pathogenic research and by the novel anti-viral strategies introduced in clinical practice. The data from pilot diagnostic applications of quantitative techniques have clarified important features of the natural history of HIV-1 infection. Moreover, an increasing amount of data indicate the need for second-level laboratory facilities for the clinical management of infected patients; virological aspects and some genetic features of the hosts concerning HIV-1 co-receptors (all the co-receptors so far identified are members of, or related to, the transmembrane, chemokine-receptor family) need to be elucidated for the complete diagnostic evaluation of HIV-1-infected subjects.
Clementi
M
M
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Trieste, Italy.
Bagnarelli
P
P
Menzo
S
S
Cardelli
M
M
Mazzola
F
F
Sampaolesi
R
R
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers