Towards an HIV-1 cure: measuring the latent reservoir

Trends Microbiol. 2015 Apr;23(4):192-203. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.01.013. Epub 2015 Mar 5.

Abstract

The latent reservoir (LR) of HIV-1 in resting memory CD4(+) T cells serves as a major barrier to curing HIV-1 infection. While many PCR- and culture-based assays have been used to measure the size of the LR, correlation between results of different assays is poor and recent studies indicate that no available assay provides an accurate measurement of reservoir size. The discrepancies between assays are a hurdle to clinical trials that aim to measure the efficacy of HIV-1 eradication strategies. Here we describe the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to measuring the LR.

Keywords: HIV-1; assays; cure; latency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology*
  • HIV Infections / therapy*
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Proviruses / physiology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / virology
  • Viral Load*
  • Virus Latency*