Follicular Dendritic Cells, HIV and Haart Treatment

Authors

Jason Meyer, Brigham Young University
Dr. Gregory Burton, Brigham Young University

Keywords

follicular dendritic cells, HIV, HAART treatment, highly active antiretroviral therapy

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV-infected patients can result in the reduction of plasma viral RNA levels to nearly undetectable levels. However, the existence of replication competent virus from chronically infected CD4+ T cells despite apparently successful HAART treatment suggests the existence of protective reservoirs in the body that protect virally infected cells from the effects of HAART treatment (1). Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are specialized cells that exist primarily in secondary lymphoid tissue. The purpose of my research was to examine my hypothesis that FDC act as such reservoirs by protecting infected cells from the effects of HAART treatment.

Recommended Citation

Meyer, Jason and Burton, Dr. Gregory (2013) "Follicular Dendritic Cells, HIV and Haart Treatment," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1312.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1312