title: HIV type 1 cervicovaginal reservoirs in the era of HAART.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Virology and Biodefense, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. Giuseppe.Nunnari@jefferson.edu
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nunnari
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nyirjesy
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kulkosky
authors.forename: Winston
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cavert
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pomerantz
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral