Figure 3

Phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 sequences from the latent reservoir and plasma. Phylogenetic trees of aligned sequences obtained by SGS from patient 2 (A) and 7 (B) were determined using the neighbour-joining distance method. From patient 2, a total of 15 SGS were obtained from the plasma sample 16 days after initiation of IVIG treatment (2.PLd16); 23 SGS from the supernatant at baseline (2.BL); and 38 SGS from the supernatant of activated T-cells 85 days after initiation of IVIG treatment (2.d85). From patient 7, 10 SGS were obtained from the plasma sample 15 days after initiation of IVIG (7.PLd15); 26 SGS from the supernatant at baseline (7.BL); and 23 SGS from the supernatant 57 days after initiation of IVIG treatment (7.d57). A close relationship was found between the HIV-1 RNA from plasma-activated T-cells and the SGS from the T-cell culture. This correlation falls within the cluster of plasma sequences, implying that activation of the latent reservoir can be the source of plasma HIV-1 RNA found during IVIG treatment. Bootstrap values > 70 are indicated in the trees.