HIV/SIV Research

Detection of SIV using non-isotopic ISH compared to the RNAscope ISH (red). 

Data courtesy of Dr. Jacob Estes of NCI 

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Despite the remarkable success of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the persistence of HIV reservoirs is a major barrier to overcome in finding a lasting cure. In order to completely eradicate HIV and advance therapeutic interventions, it is important to elucidate the biological nature of viral latency as well as productively infected cells in tissues including the gastrointestinal tract and those of the lymphatic system. RNAscope^®, a highly specific and sensitive in-situ hybridization technology, employs a powerful technique to study HIV and SIV in cellular and tissue environments.

Why use RNAscope^® Assay for HIV and SIV research?

• Localize specific cell types and tissues infected with HIV/SIV – ideal for identifying and
   measuring persistent reservoirs with single-cell resolution in full morphological context.
  
  
• Detect HIV/SIV RNA sequences despite low or undetectable plasma viral loads with specificity – with single RNA molecule detection technology, identify individual virus particles and infected cells.
  
  
• Differential detection of viral RNA and proviral DNA – RNAscope^® probes can be designed to target the sense or antisense sequences to detect the three different configurations of HIV/SIV during the replication cycles:
  
  
  • viral RNA in a virus particle;
    
  • viral genomic RNA or mRNA in an infected cell;
    
  • proviral DNA integrated in the nucleus of an infected cell.
    

Read Science 's news article 'Molecular microscope' finds hidden AIDS virus in the body" about Jake Estes of the Frederick National Laboratory of the National Cancer Institute and the application of RNAscope^® technology in HIV/SIV research.  Dr. Estes and collaborators recently authored a publication Defining HIV and SIV Reservoirs in Lymphoid Tissues.  The team of researchers outline methodology to visualize viral RNA and viral DNA simultaneously in HIV-1/SIV.  Read more

"The identification and anatomic location of HIV-infected cells and the effects of tissue environment on virus replication and viral gene expression are all critical for evaluating the pathogenesis of HIV infection and for developing cure strategies to eliminate HIV reservoirs. RNAscope in situ hybridization (ISH) has enabled us to visualize and quantify HIV RNA with single-copy resolution. For work supported by a Federal Contract with NIAID, NIH, we are using this state-of-the-art ISH technology in combination with immunohistochemistry to charactoerize the tissue and cellular compartments where the virus resides in HIV-infected humanized mice."

Dr. Cheryl Stoddart and Dr. Ekaterina Maidji

UCSF School of Medicine.  Recent publications citing RNAscope^® assay:J Neurovirol. 2015 Nov 16. PMID: 26572785.

RNAscope^® Catalog Probes Targeting HIV:

(Listed below are probes for manual RNAscope assay. Corresponding probes for automated assays are also available.)

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RNAscope^® Catalog Probes Targeting SIV:

(Listed below are probes for manual RNAscope assay. Corresponding probes for automated assays are also available.)

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To target other HIV/SIV strains or regions, ACD can design and manufacture MADE-TO-ORDER Probes  in just 2 weeks.

Related Publications

Recent publications where RNAscope^® assay was used to detect HIV or SIV.

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Read more articles from ACD, here.