Effect of Dolutegravir Intensification on HIV-1 Reservoirs

Persistent HIV viremia occurs in most ART-treated patients and could arise from reactivation of viral expression from latently-infected cells that constitute the viral latent reservoir (LR) and/or residual ongoing viral replication during cART, for instance in anatomical compartment where drug penetration is sub-optimal. The question of the sources of persistent viremia is of the utmost importance. If ongoing viral replication occurs, it could induce deleterious consequences on reservoirs size and immune activation.We propose to better characterize the role ongoing viral replication to HIV persistence under ART by undertaking a treatment intensification trial with high-dose dolutegravir. Tissue/blood samples and replication-competent reservoir measurements will be included as outcomes as well as immune activation markers.