title: Characterization of HIV-1 RNA forms in the plasma of patients undergoing successful HAART.
abstract: An assay to characterize plasma human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) sequences for patients with low viral loads was developed by combining the selective binding of anti-CD44 MicroBeads with a nested RT-PCR targeting the env C2V4 region. Sequences were obtained from 10 of 20 HIV+ patients who had viral loads below 48 copies/ml. Sequences derived from plasma were compared to those from CD14+ CD16 +monocytes and CD4+ T cells. The plasma sequences were most closely related to those amplified from monocytes, suggesting that during successful antiretroviral therapy, the predominant plasma virus originates from myeloid cells. By characterizing HIV-1 RNA sequences from 8 ml of plasma while avoiding multiple steps, which can lead to contamination and deterioration, this method can help elucidate the viral forms in patients with therapeutically suppressed HIV-1. Understanding the source of residual viremia is crucial in developing approaches for viral eradication.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce, PR 00732, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.forename: Martin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Maria Del C
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Colon
authors.forename: Tirtsa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Porrata-Doria
authors.forename: Ian C D
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010949:Plasma / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017452:Receptors, IgG