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Intravirion reverse transcripts in the peripheral blood plasma on human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected
H Zhang1, O Bagasra, M Niikura
1Dorrance H. Hamilton Laboratories, Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107.
Abstract:
Variable levels of viral DNA have been demonstrated within human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions purified from cell cultures. In the present studies, it is demonstrated that DNase-resistant viral DNA is associated with HIV-1 virions purified from the peripheral blood plasma of both symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals. The differences in viral DNA copy numbers, detected by quantitative PCR in various regions of the HIV-1 genome, indicated that the intravirion HIV-1 DNA is frequently, but perhaps not totally, the result of partial reverse transcription. These in vivo data suggest that it may be valuable to further investigate the impact of virion-associated viral DNA upon the efficiency of intra- and interhost HIV-1 transmission modes.