HIV type 1 cervicovaginal reservoirs in the era of HAART.
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) does not lead to viral eradication, due to HIV-1 residual disease. We investigated whether the cervicovaginal tract serves as a viral reservoir. Seven out of eight cervicovaginal fluids were positive for cell-free HIV-1, by supersensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), with a detection limit of 1 copy/ml. No viral outgrowth, intracellular proviral DNA, or viral RNA was detected from cervicovaginal lavage and ecto- and endocervical cells. The cervicovaginal tract of patients on HAART is likely not a major solid tissue reservoir for HIV-1. Nonetheless, the presence of even low cell-free HIV-1 RNA in cervicovaginal secretions continues to suggest the importance of practicing protected sex, even in the era of HAART.
Nunnari
Giuseppe
G
Institute for Human Virology and Biodefense, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. Giuseppe.Nunnari@jefferson.edu
Sullivan
Julie
J
Xu
Yan
Y
Nyirjesy
Paul
P
Kulkosky
Joseph
J
Cavert
Winston
W
Frank
Ian
I
Pomerantz
Roger J
RJ
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014621:Vagina / Q000821:virology*
D012367:RNA, Viral