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HIV-1 Eradication: Early Trials (and Tribulations)
Adam M Spivak1, Vicente Planelles2
1Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Trends in Molecular Medicine
|December 23, 2015
Summary
Antiretroviral therapy controls HIV-1 but does not eliminate it due to latent viral reservoirs. Research explores
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) manages HIV-1 infection but doesn't eradicate the virus.
- Latent HIV-1 proviruses persist in long-lived cellular reservoirs, primarily resting memory CD4(+) T cells.
- Understanding this latent reservoir is crucial due to potential ART toxicities and limited access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in HIV-1 eradication strategies.
- To explore the nature of the latent HIV-1 reservoir at cellular and molecular levels.
- To analyze pharmacologically based 'shock and kill' strategies and early clinical trials.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on HIV-1 persistence.
- Cellular and molecular analysis of HIV-1 reservoirs.
- Comparative analysis of early clinical trials for 'shock and kill' strategies.
Main Results:
- Identification of resting memory CD4(+) T cells as the predominant HIV-1 reservoir.
- Uncovered potential strategies to reverse HIV-1 latency.
- Early clinical trials of 'shock and kill' strategies are being analyzed.
Conclusions:
- HIV-1 eradication remains a challenge due to persistent latent reservoirs.
- Pharmacological 'shock and kill' strategies show promise for reversing latency.
- Further research and clinical trials are needed to achieve viral eradication.
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