Paper summary
Summary: The study published in Nature, “Distinct viral reservoirs in individuals with spontaneous control of HIV-1”, aimed to characterize specific features of HIV–positive participants labelled as elite controllers. They are infected individuals with untreated HIV who can control the virus’ replication under the threshold of detection of commercial viral load assays. Researchers examined cell samples of 64 elite–controllers and compared those to cell samples of 41 individuals treated with suppressive antiretrovirals. They discovered a “block and lock” control mechanism in elite controllers where the virus integrated into an isolated part of the genome where it cannot reproduce. Despite the confirmation of a naturally occurring functional cure in elite–controllers, the researchers established the need for more longitudinal observations of their subjects before drug designs can proceed.
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