Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) does not lead to viral eradication, due to HIV-1 residual disease. We investigated whether the cervicovaginal tract serves as a viral reservoir. Seven out of eight cervicovaginal fluids were positive for cell-free HIV-1, by supersensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), with a detection limit of 1 copy/ml. No viral outgrowth, intracellular proviral DNA, or viral RNA was detected from cervicovaginal lavage and ecto- and endocervical cells. The cervicovaginal tract of patients on HAART is likely not a major solid tissue reservoir for HIV-1. Nonetheless, the presence of even low cell-free HIV-1 RNA in cervicovaginal secretions continues to suggest the importance of practicing protected sex, even in the era of HAART.

HIV type 1 cervicovaginal reservoirs in the era of HAART.

NUNNARI G
;
2005-01-01

Abstract

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) does not lead to viral eradication, due to HIV-1 residual disease. We investigated whether the cervicovaginal tract serves as a viral reservoir. Seven out of eight cervicovaginal fluids were positive for cell-free HIV-1, by supersensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), with a detection limit of 1 copy/ml. No viral outgrowth, intracellular proviral DNA, or viral RNA was detected from cervicovaginal lavage and ecto- and endocervical cells. The cervicovaginal tract of patients on HAART is likely not a major solid tissue reservoir for HIV-1. Nonetheless, the presence of even low cell-free HIV-1 RNA in cervicovaginal secretions continues to suggest the importance of practicing protected sex, even in the era of HAART.
2005
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11570/3130455
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 9
  • Scopus 32
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 35
social impact