HIV-1 dynamics in vivo: Virion clearance rate, infected cell life-span, and viral generation time

Journal Article · Fri Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.271.5255.1582· OSTI ID:285021

Perelson, A S; Neumann, A U ^[1]; Markowitz, M; Ho, D D ^[2]; Leonard, J M ^[3]

---

1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM (United States)
2. Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY (United States)
3. Abbott Laboratory, IL (United States)

A new mathematical model was used to analyze a detailed set of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) viral load data collected from five infected individuals after the administration of a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 protease. Productively infected cells were estimated to have, on average, a life-span of 2.2 days (half-life t{sub 1/2} = 1.6 days), and plasma virions were estimated to have, on average, a mean life-span of 0.3 days (t{sub 1/2} = 0.24 days). The estimated average total HIV-1 production was 10.3 x 10{sup 9}virions per day, which is substantially greater than previous minimum estimates. The results also suggest that the minimum duration of the HIV-1 life cycle in vivo is 1.2 days on average, and that the average HIV-1 generation time-defined as the time from release of a virion until it infects another cell and causes the release of a new generation of viral particles-is 2.6 days. These findings on viral dynamics provide not only a kinetic picture of HIV-1 pathogenesis, but also theoretical principles to guide the development of treatment strategies. 22 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 285021
• Journal Information: Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 5255 Vol. 271; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
AIDS VIRUS
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CLEARANCE
IN VIVO
LIFE SPAN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS