The persistent immune activation seen in people living with HIV is probably established within the first few weeks of HIV infection as viral reservoirs in central memory compartments are developed within days after systemic infection. Even very early onset combination antiretroviral therapy fails to eliminate these reservoirs. Due to persisting latent HIV reservoir, lifelong treatment is necessary. Furthermore, it currently prohibits eradicative as well as functional cure form HIV infection.
Within the 2000HIV project we aim to study the size and composition of the HIV reservoir, with the ability to distinguish between replication competent versus defective HIV.
