Autologous T-cell therapy based on a lentiviral vector expressing long antisense RNA targeted against HIV-1 env gene influences HIV replication and evolution in vivo

Materials and methods Autologous CD4 T lymphocytes from HIV-infected subjects were genetically modified ex vivo with the vector, expanded, and 10-80 billion vector-modified cells were reinfused into patients. Longitudinal effects of the therapy on HIV-1 env evolution were analyzed in 17 subjects sampled both pre-infusion and monthly postinfusion for 6 to 12 months. Plasma-derived viral RNA from 144 samples was amplified, cloned, and the fulllength gp120 coding region was sequenced in 8-10 clones for each sample.