Replies to post #50748 on Biotech Values

[microcapfun]

HIV/tropism

>> I would assume the presence of a very small percentage of CXCR4-tropic virions in every infected individual. Otherwise T cells wouldn't be infected reasonably early after exposure, and of course they are. <<


This is the only part I might question rfj1862, given that the mutation rate for HIV is quite high and it seems that the average time for the CXCR4 tropism to show up via assay is several years - with or w/o maraviroc.

I guess a more sensitive CXCR4 assay is needed to answer these sorts of questions and also to optimally target patients most suitable for CCR5 inhibitors.

micro