|
1
|
Kibirige CN, Manak M, King D, Abel B, Hack H, Wooding D, Liu Y, Fernandez N, Dalel J, Kaye S, Imami N, Jagodzinski L, Gilmour J. Development of a sensitive, quantitative assay with broad subtype specificity for detection of total HIV-1 nucleic acids in plasma and PBMC. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1550. [PMID: 35091568 PMCID: PMC8799642 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03016-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
An LTR-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was modified and optimized for the quantification of total HIV-1 nucleic acids in plasma and PBMC. TaqMan qPCR primers and probes were designed against the NCBI/LANL HIV-1 compendium database by analyzing sequences used in assays for sensitive cross-clade detection of HIV-1 as reported in the literature and elucidating regions of improved cross-subtype specificity. Inosine and mixed nucleotide bases were included at polymorphic sites. Real-time RT-qPCR and qPCR were performed on plasma viral RNA and cellular lysates. A step-up amplification approach to allow binding of primers across polymorphic regions showed improved sensitivity compared to universal cycling. Unlike a lead competing laboratory-developed assay, all major HIV-1 subtypes, and a wide range of recombinants from a 127-member diversity panel were detected and accurately quantified in spiked plasmas. Semi-nested PCR increased detection sensitivity even further. The assay was able to detect down to 88 copies/mL of HIV-1 in plasma with 95% efficiency or the equivalent of a single infected cell. The PCR assay will be valuable in studies that monitor very low viral levels including residual or break through HIV-1 in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy, in HIV-1 cure, and in other research studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C N Kibirige
- IAVI, Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK.
| | - M Manak
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
- Turesol Consulting, 314 S. Henderson Road, King of Prussia, PA, 19406, USA
| | - D King
- IAVI, Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - B Abel
- IAVI, Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - H Hack
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
- Diagnostics and Countermeasures Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - D Wooding
- IAVI, Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Y Liu
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
- Diagnostics and Countermeasures Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - N Fernandez
- IAVI, Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - J Dalel
- IAVI, Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Steve Kaye
- Molecular Diagnostics Unit, Imperial College London, Jefferiss Trust Laboratory, St. Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - N Imami
- Centre for Immunology and Vaccinology, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - L Jagodzinski
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
- Diagnostics and Countermeasures Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - J Gilmour
- IAVI, Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| |
Collapse
|