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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 467-72 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Medical Virology |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 10 Oct 2002 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2002 |
Keywords
- semen
- drug resistance
- blood
- virus populations
- HIV-1
