HIV-1 functional cure: will the dream come true?. Issue 1 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Chao; Ma, Xiancai; Liu, Bingfeng; Chen, Cancan; Zhang, Hui
• Is Part Of: BMC medicine. Volume 13:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: cART -- Functional cure -- Genetic engineering -- HIV-1 -- Latency reservoir -- Shock and kill -- Permanent silencing -- Sterilizing cure; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1186/s12916-015-0517-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-7015

Abstract

Abstract The reservoir of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), a long-lived pool of latently infected cells harboring replication-competent viruses, is the major obstacle to curing acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can successfully suppress HIV-1 viremia and significantly delay the progression of the disease, it cannot eliminate the viral reservoir and the patient must continue to take anti-viral medicines for life. Currently, the appearance of the 'Berlin patient', the 'Boston patients', and the 'Mississippi baby' have inspired many therapeutic strategies for HIV-1 aimed at curing efforts. However, the specific eradication of viral latency and the recovery and optimization of the HIV-1-specific immune surveillance are major challenges to achieving such a cure. Here, we summarize recent studies addressing the mechanisms underlying the viral latency and define two categories of viral reservoir: 'shallow' and 'deep'. We also present the current strategies and recent advances in the development of a functional cure for HIV-1, focusing on full/partial replacement of the immune system, 'shock and kill', and 'permanent silencing' approaches.