VIRAL DYNAMICS OF HIV - IMPLICATIONS FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES

The ability to quantitate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in blood and tissues from patients at all stages of disease has provided new in sights into the pathogenesis of HIV disease. There is a dynamic equili brium between HIV production and clearance even during the period of c linical latency, which may permit resistant virus to emerge with the i mposition of drug pressure. Disruption of the equilibrium with effecti ve drugs reduces circulating levels of HIV within 1 week, thus allowin g the rapid assessment of new candidate drugs. To maximize the magnitu de and durability of HIV RNA suppression, therapeutic strategies must be implemented that are effective against high levels of rapidly repli cating virus that consist of many genetic variants.