Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated with increased HIV reservoir surrogate markers

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The most common opportunistic infection among individuals living with HIV infection is tuberculosis (Tb). The effect of co-infection with Tb on the development and maintenance of the HIV reservoir is not clear. 36.9 million People are currently infected with HIV (PWH), including about 1.8 million new cases of infection per year. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) greatly reduces the mortality of patients infected with HIV and increases the quality of life of PWH patients. The existence of the HIV reservoir, referring to the persistence of the replication-competent provirus among PWH undergoing long-term effective ART, is the key obstacle in eradicating HIV infection. Tb is known to encourage replication of HIV and may speed up the progression of HIV. Compared to HIV mono-HIV infected patients, Tb is associated with higher HIV viral load in blood and cerebrospinal fluid as well as increased genetic heterogeneity of viral quasi-species. Increased plasma IL-7 levels are also associated with Tb co-infection, which is important in the establishment and maintenance of the HIV-1 reservoir. Moreover as demonstrated by elevated levels of inflammatory markers, including the activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which has been correlated with the size of the HIV reservoir, Tb is also characterized by greater immune activation. The main aim of our journal (Journal of HIV and AIDS Research) is to draws readers' attention to the latest advances in HIV research in the fields of prevention, care and cure. The peoples who are interested to publish their article they can submit their manuscripts in our journal through given link: https://www.scholarscentral.org/submissions/hiv-aids-research.html