Identification of system-level features in HIV migration within a host
Ravi Goyal1, Victor De Gruttola2, Sara Gianella1
1Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America.
Plos One
|September 26, 2023
Summary
This study reveals consistent patterns in how HIV moves between tissues in the body, including bidirectional flow and hierarchical structures. Understanding these viral migration networks can help target HIV cure strategies more effectively.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Network Science
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) establishes persistent reservoirs in various body tissues, complicating eradication efforts.
- Understanding the dynamics of viral migration and its system-level features within a host is crucial for developing effective HIV cure strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify system-level features governing HIV migration across different body tissues within a host.
- To evaluate the heterogeneity in the presence and magnitude of these features across individuals living with HIV.
Main Methods:
- Utilized deep sequencing data of HIV DNA from multiple tissues of 8 individuals.
- Modeled HIV migration networks using exponential random graph models (ERGMs) to assess specific network features.
- Investigated bi-directional flow, tissue-specific migration, reservoir size correlation, hierarchical structure, and cyclical migration.
- Employed Cochran's Q statistic to assess heterogeneity across hosts and adjusted for missing tissue data.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated strong evidence for bi-directional tissue flow, migration within biological systems, and hierarchical network structures.
- Found no significant correlation between viral migration levels and tissue HIV reservoir size.
- Observed cyclical migration among three tissues occurring less frequently than expected.
- Confirmed significant heterogeneity in the magnitude of these features across hosts, even after adjusting for missing data.
Conclusions:
- Identified common system-level features of HIV migration within hosts, such as hierarchical structures and bidirectional flow.
- Highlighted significant inter-individual heterogeneity in these migration patterns.
- Suggests that targeting identified common features in viral migration could enhance the efficiency of HIV cure efforts.
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