aidsmap
Liz Highleyman
Original Article: bit.ly/1Itdolf
Starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) very soon after infection may limit the size of the HIV ‘reservoir’ and delay viral rebound after treatment interruption, according to several presentations at the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2015) in Seattle, USA. Other research showed that various biomarkers may predict who will experience HIV rebound after stopping ART.
As part of its lifecycle, HIV integrates its genetic material into the chromosomes of host cells and uses the cell’s machinery to produce new virus. Soon after infection, HIV establishes a reservoir of latent genetic material, known as proviral DNA, in inactive or resting T-cells. While ART can effectively control viral replication long-term, if the drugs are stopped the virus soon comes back, presenting a major barrier to viral eradication.
Full text of article available at link below: bit.ly/1Itdolf
