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HIV RNA and proviral HIV DNA can be detected in semen after 6 months of antiretroviral therapy although HIV RNA is undetectable in blood
Author(s) -
Du Peiwei,
Liu An,
Jiao Yanmei,
Liu Cuie,
Jiang Taiyi,
Zhu Weijun,
Zhu Yunxia,
Wu Hao,
Sun Lijun
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/1348-0421.12361
Subject(s) - semen , biology , virology , rna , sexual transmission , lentivirus , viral disease , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , gene , genetics , microbicide
The risk of sexual transmission of HIV is strongly correlated with amounts of genital HIV RNA. Few studies have reported amounts of HIV RNA and HIV DNA in semen in HIV‐infected Chinese patients undergoing antiviral treatment (ART). In this observational study, the amounts of HIV RNA and HIV DNA in semen were assessed after six months of ART in HIV‐infected Chinese individuals, when HIV RNA was undetectable in blood . This study included 19 HIV‐infected Chinese men undergoing ART for six months. Amounts of HIV in paired semen and blood samples were assessed using real‐time PCR. The C2‐V5 region of the HIV envelope ( env ) genes was cloned and sequenced and genotype and co‐receptor usage predicted based on the sequence. It was found that HIV RNA was undetectable in the plasma of most patients (17/19), whereas HIV RNA could be detected in the semen of most patients (16/19). HIV DNA could be detected in both semen and blood. Genetic diversity of HIV between the seminal and blood compartments was identified. Thus, amounts of HIV RNA and HIV DNA remain high in semen of HIV‐infected Chinese patients after six months of ART treatment, even when HIV RNA was undetectable in blood.