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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
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Interview: HIV-1 Proviral DNA Excision Using an Evolved Recombinase
Published on: June 16, 2008
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Eradicating HIV-1 infection: seeking to clear a persistent pathogen
Nancie M Archin1, Julia Marsh Sung1, Carolina Garrido1
1Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|November 18, 2014
Summary
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) controls HIV-1 but doesn't cure it due to latent viral reservoirs. New strategies aim to eliminate these reservoirs and infected cells, potentially ending the need for lifelong ART.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses HIV-1 replication but does not eliminate the virus.
- Persistent viral reservoirs of integrated provirus within host DNA render HIV-1 infection incurable.
- Latent HIV-1 infection remains hidden from ART and the immune system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel therapeutic strategies for eradicating established HIV-1 infection.
- To explore methods for clearing latently infected cells and overcoming viral reservoirs.
- To discuss approaches that could eliminate the need for lifelong antiretroviral therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on latency-disrupting therapies.
- Analysis of strategies to enhance HIV-1-specific immune responses.
- Exploration of both established and emerging therapeutic approaches.
Main Results:
- Current ART effectively controls viral load but cannot eliminate latent reservoirs.
- Latency-disrupting therapies can unmask residual viral genomes.
- Improved immune responses are crucial for clearing latently infected cells.
Conclusions:
- Eradicating established HIV-1 infection requires targeting latent viral reservoirs.
- Combination strategies involving latency disruption and immune enhancement are promising.
- These approaches may lead to a functional cure, avoiding lifelong ART.
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