HIV provirus

The HIV provirus is the integrated form of the HIV-1 genome into the host cell's DNA, consisting of viral coding regions flanked by long terminal repeats (LTRs) that regulate transcription and latency. Following reverse transcription of the viral RNA genome and integrase-mediated insertion, the provirus persists as a stable heritable element in infected cells like CD4+ T cells and monocytes, enabling lifelong viral reservoirs even under antiretroviral therapy (ART). Biologically, it serves as a template for viral RNA production upon activation signals, driving new virion assembly while remaining transcriptionally silent in latent states to evade immune detection. In HIV/AIDS pathogenesis, the provirus underlies chronic infection, immune depletion, and treatment challenges due to its persistence in sanctuary sites. Drugs do not directly eradicate the provirus but target enzymes (e.g., reverse transcriptase, integrase, protease) to block its replication cycle pre- or post-integration, with newer agents like capsid inhibitors addressing residual activity. Proviral features, such as intact sequences versus hypermutated or defective forms, influence reservoir dynamics and virological responses.

Other names

HIV-1 proviral DNAproviral HIV genomeintegrated HIV DNA

Reverse transcriptase inhibition (prevents proviral DNA synthesis); Integrase inhibition (prevents proviral integration); Protease inhibition (prevents maturation of new virions from proviral transcription); Capsid inhibition (disrupts proviral uncoating and replication)