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Analysis of HIV‐1 variation in blood and semen during treatment and treatment interruption
Author(s) -
Choudhury Bhudipa,
Pillay Deenan,
Taylor Stephen,
Cane Patricia A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.10247
Subject(s) - biology , virus , semen , virology , population , viral disease , gene , lentivirus , viral envelope , immunology , genetics , medicine , environmental health
Abstract The variability of populations of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) in blood and semen, with respect to envelope and polymerase gene sequences, was examined longitudinally in a patient experiencing treatment failure, interruption of treatment, and successful reintroduction of therapy. During treatment failure, there was little evidence of compartmentalisation between blood and semen, with virus with identical resistance‐associated mutations observed in both compartments and lack of clustering with respect to envelope gene sequences. After cessation of treatment, wild‐type virus became the predominant population, displaying distinct envelope gene populations, indicating that wild‐type virus had overgrown the resistant virus, rather than the resistant virus reverting to wild‐type. Once successful therapy had been recommenced, it was possible to distinguish distinct populations of virus in the two compartments. These data support the hypothesis that the male genital tract represents a distinct HIV‐1 reservoir. J. Med. Virol. 68:467–472, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.