2-LTR CIRCULAR VIRAL-DNA AS A MARKER FOR HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 INFECTION IN-VIVO

The unintegrated viral DNA found in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection includes linear and circular forms. We targeted the circular form containing two copies of the viral long terminal repeat (2-LTR circle) and developed specific assays to detect this molecule in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected patients. In vitro HIV-1 infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed rapid accumulation and rapid decay of 2-LTR circular viral DNA. Examination of 2-LTR circular viral DNA levels provides a view of spreading infection based on a viral DNA form that is structurally distinct and has a known, short half-life in infected cells. In patients not receiving antiviral therapy, the levers of 2-LTR circular viral DNA and total viral DNA were significantly correlated to CD4 cell counts. similar correlations were not observed in patients receiving zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddA), or zalcitabine (ddC). (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.