Communications Biology (Mar 2024)

HIV-Tocky system to visualize proviral expression dynamics

  • Omnia Reda,
  • Kazuaki Monde,
  • Kenji Sugata,
  • Akhinur Rahman,
  • Wajihah Sakhor,
  • Samiul Alam Rajib,
  • Sharmin Nahar Sithi,
  • Benjy Jek Yang Tan,
  • Koki Niimura,
  • Chihiro Motozono,
  • Kenji Maeda,
  • Masahiro Ono,
  • Hiroaki Takeuchi,
  • Yorifumi Satou

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06025-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Abstract Determinants of HIV-1 latency establishment are yet to be elucidated. HIV reservoir comprises a rare fraction of infected cells that can survive host and virus-mediated killing. In vitro reporter models so far offered a feasible means to inspect this population, but with limited capabilities to dissect provirus silencing dynamics. Here, we describe a new HIV reporter model, HIV-Timer of cell kinetics and activity (HIV-Tocky) with dual fluorescence spontaneous shifting to reveal provirus silencing and reactivation dynamics. This unique feature allows, for the first time, identifying two latent populations: a directly latent, and a recently silenced subset, with the latter having integration features suggestive of stable latency. Our proposed model can help address the heterogeneous nature of HIV reservoirs and offers new possibilities for evaluating eradication strategies.