A murine viral outgrowth assay to detect residual HIV type 1 in patients with undetectable viral loads

Kelly A. Metcalf Pate, Christopher W. Pohlmeyer, Victoria E. Walker-Sperling, Jeremy B. Foote, Kevin M. Najarro, Catherine G. Cryer, Maria Salgado, Lucio Gama, Elizabeth L. Engle, Erin N. Shirk, Suzanne E. Queen, Stanley Chioma, Meghan S. Vermillion, Brandon Bullock, Ming Li, Claire E. Lyons, Robert J. Adams, M. Christine Zink, Janice E. Clements, Joseph L. MankowskiJoel N. Blankson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background.Sensitive assays are needed for detection of residual human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients with undetectable plasma viral loads to determine whether eradication strategies are effective. The gold standard quantitative viral outgrowth assay (QVOA) underestimates the magnitude of the viral reservoir. We sought to determine whether xenograft of leukocytes from HIV type 1 (HIV)-infected patients with undetectable plasma viral loads into immunocompromised mice would result in viral amplification. Methods.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells or purified CD4+ T cells from HIV or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected subjects with undetectable plasma viral loads were adoptively transferred into NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice. The mice were monitored for viremia following depletion of human CD8+ T cells to minimize antiviral activity. In some cases, humanized mice were also treated with activating anti-CD3 antibody. Results.With this murine viral outgrowth assay (MVOA), we successfully amplified replication-competent HIV or SIV from all subjects tested, including 5 HIV-positive patients receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 6 elite controllers or suppressors who were maintaining undetectable viral loads without ART, including an elite suppressor from whom we were unable to recover virus by QVOA. Conclusions.Our results suggest that the MVOA has the potential to serve as a powerful tool to identify residual HIV in patients with undetectable viral loads.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1387-1396
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume212
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2015

Keywords

  • HIV
  • SIV
  • cure
  • humanized mouse
  • quantitative viral outgrowth assay (QVOA)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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