title: Reservoirs of human immunodeficiency virus type 1: the main obstacles to viral eradication.
abstract: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to profound decreases in morbidity and mortality rates in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected persons, at least in the developed world. Many infected persons have plasma levels of HIV-1 RNA that are less than the limits of detection of most clinical assays as a result of combination antiretroviral therapy. Nonetheless, HIV-1 has not been eradicated by HAART. This has been shown to be because of latent HIV-1 replication-competent provirus in resting CD4+ T lymphocytes, cryptic viral replication below the limits of detection of most clinical assays, and, possibly, the presence of viral sanctuary sites. An understanding of these reservoirs for HIV-1 in the setting of virally suppressive HAART will be critical for the development of new approaches to induce HIV-1 remissions and for the exploration of the possibility of viral eradication in the future.
authors.affiliation: Dorrance H. Hamilton Laboratories and Center for Human Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. roger.j.pomerantz@mail.tju.edu
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pomerantz
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000821:virology; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000821:virology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017735:Virus Latency; D014779:Virus Replication