Detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genome from the lymphocytes of homosexual men

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the primary etiological agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This virus can be transmitted by blood or blood products. Homosexual males (HM) are regarded as one of the high‐risk groups for AIDS. Lymphocytes obtained from HM were used for cocultivation with fresh HIV antibody negative lymphocytes. The presence of virus particles was monitored by reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. Three out of eleven donors were found to have reverse transcriptase activity. All three donors were also found to be HIV antibody positive. HIV DNA from infected cells was detected by dot blot hybridization. The number of genome per cell is low. The correlation between RT activity and the cytolytic effect of HIV will be discussed.