Reversing HIV Latency

Latent HIV, in which the virus is integrated into the genome of infected cells but is transcriptionally silent, is not recognized by the immune system. This viral reservoir, which persists in people on antiretroviral therapy (ART), is thought to be the greatest barrier to curing HIV. Now, two new studies highlight the possibility of reversing HIV latency, at least in animal models.

Nixon and colleagues studied the effect of AZD5582, an experimental cancer therapeutic, on ART-treated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–infected rhesus macaques and HIV-infected mice with a human immune system (humanized mice). In both animal models, the drug induced virus expression in cells and increased viral levels in blood. This effect is thought to be rel…