The Hidden Enemy Within: Uncovering the Secrets of HIV Tissues Reservoirs and Current mRNA Vaccine Development

Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) continue to pose a significant global health threat despite the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART). As a retrovirus, HIV persists as a stable, integrated, and replication-competent provirus within a diverse array of long-lived cells for many years, often termed “latent reservoirs” in individuals. Thus, this review aims to furnish a comprehensive overview of diverse tissue reservoirs where HIV persists, elucidating their pathogenesis and advancement in their strategies for clinical management. Understanding the mechanisms underlying HIV persistence within tissue reservoirs is of significant interest in developing effective ART for suppressing the virus in the blood. In addition, we also discussed the ongoing mRNA HIV vaccine that has shown promising results in clinical trials to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies and effective T-cell responses against HIV.