Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly01:19

Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly

As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...
Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction01:28

Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction

Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Diagnosis of chlamydial and gonococcal conjunctivitis: performance evaluation of a nucleic acid amplification test.

Microbiology spectrum·2026
Same author

HIV superinfection reveals sequential reservoir reactivation and immune-driven rebound dynamics.

Journal of virology·2026
Same author

Pharyngeal gonorrhea in Ugandan men with urogenital gonorrhea: differences in antimicrobial resistance and strain types between anatomical sites.

The Journal of infectious diseases·2026
Same author

Inhibitory potential of autologous neutralizing antibodies sets quantitative limits on the rebound-competent HIV-1 reservoir.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

"That's not my silo": Navigating fragmented long COVID care in the mid-Atlantic United States.

SSM. Qualitative research in health·2026
Same author

Prevalence and correlates of prevalent sexually transmitted infections among young women employed as domestic workers in Central Uganda: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BMJ public health·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Amplification of Near Full-length HIV-1 Proviruses for Next-Generation Sequencing
10:18

Amplification of Near Full-length HIV-1 Proviruses for Next-Generation Sequencing

Published on: October 16, 2018

5' leader defects drive persistent HIV-1 viremia on long-term ART.

Julia R Box1, Angelica Camilo-Contreras1, Filippo Dragoni1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Nature Communications
|June 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Defective HIV-1 RNA with 5' Leader (5'L) defects drives nonsuppressible viremia (NSV) in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). A new digital PCR assay, CLAWS, identifies these defective genomes as the main cause of persistent HIV-1 RNA.

More Related Videos

Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays
13:58

Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays

Published on: September 26, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Amplification of Near Full-length HIV-1 Proviruses for Next-Generation Sequencing
10:18

Amplification of Near Full-length HIV-1 Proviruses for Next-Generation Sequencing

Published on: October 16, 2018

Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays
13:58

Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays

Published on: September 26, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA can persist in plasma despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART).
  • Nonsuppressible viremia (NSV) is characterized by detectable HIV-1 RNA, raising concerns for treatment failure, disease progression, and transmission.
  • The origins of NSV are not fully understood due to limitations in characterizing plasma HIV-1 RNA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the contribution of defective HIV-1 proviruses, specifically those with 5' Leader (5'L) defects, to NSV.
  • To quantify the relative abundance of intact versus defective HIV-1 RNA in plasma.
  • To develop and validate a novel assay for profiling 5'L-defective HIV-1 RNA.

Main Methods:

  • Development and application of CLAWS (Capturing 5' Leader Anomalies Without Sequencing), a digital PCR assay.
  • Comparison of CLAWS assay results with sequencing-based methods.
  • Analysis of plasma HIV-1 RNA from over 50 participants on long-term ART.

Main Results:

  • Plasma viremia in NSV is predominantly driven by highly clonal HIV-1 RNA populations with 5'L defects, particularly around the major splice donor (MSD).
  • The CLAWS assay accurately recapitulated sequencing estimates and detected low-abundance defective RNA.
  • Defective HIV-1 genomes emerge early in therapy and become the dominant form of circulating RNA during long-term ART.

Conclusions:

  • HIV-1 RNA with 5'L defects are the primary drivers of nonsuppressible viremia.
  • The CLAWS assay is a practical and scalable tool for monitoring defective viral RNA.
  • These findings have implications for understanding HIV persistence and developing strategies for HIV cure.