A new path to HIV elimination

Abstract

A group of French researchers have identified a marker that makes possible to differentiate "inactive" HIV-infected cells from healthy cells. This discovery will allow the isolation and analysis of reservoir cells. A reservoir refers to CD4 lymphocytes or other resting cells (located in blood or other tissues), infected with HIV but not actively producing HIV. They are established during the earliest stage of infection and, although antiretroviral therapy can reduce HIV concentration in the blood to an undetectable level, latent (resting) virus reservoirs survive treatment. When a cell with latent infection is reactivated (for example, upon discontinuation of treatment), the reservoirs begin to produce the virus again. For that reason, antiretroviral treatment can not cure HIV infection.

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