Speaker
Description
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections can be effectively controlled with the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), which keep viral loads below detectable levels. Currently, individuals with HIV must adhere to treatment for the rest of their lives to manage the virus. This is due to the existence of the HIV reservoir – a population of cells that are latently infected by HIV – which can reactivate and cause viral rebound in individuals who stopped ART. Interestingly, the time to viral rebound is variable from weeks (in most individuals) to years. Mechanisms behind viral rebound or factors that could influence the timing of viral rebound remain largely misunderstood. We have developed a simplified model that simulates the seeding of the reservoir and viral rebound after treatment interruption. Using this model, we explore different factors that could be associated with extending the time to viral rebound.
