Oral Combinational Antiretroviral Therapy to Treat HIV-1 Infection in a Humanized Mouse Model

Take a mixture of drugs targeting the human immunodeficiency virus-1, or HIV-1, for an oral combinational antiretroviral therapy, or oral cART.

Combine the mixture with a nutritional supplement containing a moderate fat content to facilitate drug absorption in the body.

Introduce antibiotics to prevent opportunistic infections in the HIV-1-infected mouse model, possessing engrafted human immune cells.

Upon consumption of the mixture, the drugs enter the HIV-1-infected cells carrying the viral RNA genome and enzymes.

A subset of drugs, termed reverse transcriptase inhibitors, mimics natural deoxyribonucleotides.

When the viral RNA undergoes reverse transcription, the inhibitors are incorporated into the growing DNA chain, inhibiting the reverse transcriptase and terminating viral DNA synthesis.

The other subset, termed integrase strand transfer inhibitors, inhibits viral integrase, preventing the integration of reverse-transcribed DNA into the host genome and ceasing viral replication.

Periodically assess the mouse for HIV-1 infection suppression, confirming the success of oral cART.

Begin by weighing individual drugs. Make 10 food cups with cART using sterile cell scrapers to weigh