HIV persistence in tissues on dolutegravir-based therapy is not associated with resistance mutations to dolutegravir

Key Points

• HIV-1 persistence in deep tissues does not show resistance mutations to dolutegravir, indicating stable treatment response.
• Transcriptional activity primarily arises from defective proviral DNA, contributing to ongoing HIV-1 detection.
• Analysis of tissue samples indicates an absence of drug resistance mutations from intact HIV-1 proviruses while on therapy.
• Identifying these mechanisms highlights the complexity of treatment, suggesting potential paths for future HIV-1 therapies.