Modeling HIV Persistence, the Latent Reservoir, and Viral Blips

Abstract

HIV-1 eradication from infected individuals has not been achieved despite the prolonged use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The cellular reservoir for HIV-1 in latently infected cells remains a major obstacle to viral elimination. The reservoir does not decay significantly over long periods of time but is able to release replication-competent HIV-1 upon cell activation. Residual ongoing viral replication may likely occur in many patients because low levels of virus can be detected in plasma by sensitive assays and transient episodes of viremia (HIV-1 “blips”) are often observed in patients even with successful viral suppression for many years. In this talk, I will review our current knowledge of the factors contributing to viral persistence, the latent reservoir, and blips, and mathematical models developed to explore them and their relationships. I will show how mathematical modeling has helped improve our understanding of HIV-1 dynamics in patients on HAART and of the quantitative events underlyingHIV-1 latency, reservoir stability, low-level viral persistence, and emergence of intermittent viral blips. I will also discuss treatment implications related to these studies.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

3:00 – 4:00 P.M.

372 Science and Engineering Building

(Refreshments at 2:30-3:00 PM in the kitchen area adjacent to 368 SEB)