HIV tropism
HIV tropism refers to the
HIV can infect a variety of
Macrophage (M-tropic) strains of HIV-1, or non-syncitia-inducing strains (NSI) use the beta-chemokine receptor
T-tropic isolates, or
Viruses that use only the CCR5 receptor are termed R5, those that only use CXCR4 are termed X4, and those that use both, X4R5. However, the use of a coreceptor alone does not explain viral tropism, as not all R5 viruses are able to use CCR5 on macrophages for a productive infection.[1]
Trofile assay
The Trofile assay is a blood test that identifies the tropism of a patient's HIV.[3] A molecular assay, Trofile was developed by Monogram Biosciences for use in HIV treatment. The assay's purpose is to identify the tropism of an individual patient's HIV strain – R5, X4, or a combination of these known as dual/mixed (D/M). The results show whether the patient is infected with virus that enters cells using the R5 co-receptor, the X4 co-receptor, or both (dual/mixed). Patients with strains of HIV that prefer the R5 receptor tend to remain healthy longer than those with the strains that prefer X4. However, over the course of the disease, a patient's viral population may undergo a "tropism switch" from R5 to X4.
References
External links
- HIVcoPred A server for prediction of HIV coreceptor usage (CCR5). PLoS ONE 8(4): e61437
- Monogram Biosciences' Trofile assay:
- Monogram Biosciences' Trofile assay website
- Four Studies Affirm Significance Of Monogram's Trofile HIV Co-Receptor Tropism Assay Archived 2011-05-16 at the Wayback Machine from Medical News Today, August 14, 2006
- Scientific Data Highlights Pivotal Role Of Monogram's Molecular Diagnostics In Development And Use Of New HIV Treatments Archived 2011-05-16 at the Wayback Machine from Medical News Today, March 7, 2007