HIV-1 genotypes in peripheral blood monocytes

CD4(+) T cells and tissue macrophages are well de fined as the major target s for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and replication , and their infection accounts for many aspects of HIV-1 pathogenesis in vi vo. HIV-1 genotype and phenotype in monocytes and their potential roles in pathogenicity in vivo remain unknown. Herein is an overview of our initial work on HIV-1 genotype in purified CD14(+) monocytes isolated longitudinall y during the course of infection starting from the time of infection. Our d ata provide evidence for HIV-1 evolution in monocytes and their role as a r eservoir of HIV-1 in vivo. A better understanding of HIV-1 in monocytes may greatly help the development of new therapeutic strategies for HIV-1 infec tion.