A new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Molecular & Comparative Pathobiology has identified that HIV genomes persist in myeloid cells similar to the known CD4 T cell reservoir. The study found that HIV can remain hidden in monocytes, even in patients with undetectable viral loads, and that these genomes can still produce viral particles that can infect other cells. These findings underscore the importance of broadening the scope of HIV cure efforts and shifting away from a sole focus on CD4 T cells to thinking about CD4 T cells and myeloid cells together as the HIV reservoir.
- Read the paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01349-3
- Hopkins press release: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/new-study-hiv-genomes-that-hide-in-white-blood-cells-offer-new-target-to-eliminate-infections
- NIMH press release: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2023/hiv-can-persist-for-years-in-myeloid-cells-of-people-on-antiretroviral-therapy