Fig. 1

Real-time PCR strategy for the quantification of various HIV-1 DNA species. Approximate locations of forward and reverse primers used for the amplification of both total HIV-1 DNA (integrated and unintegrated species) and unintegrated forms (PBS primers indicated in black) and for the selective amplification of 2-LTR circles (2-LTR primers indicated in grey) are shown. The table shows the legend and sequences of primers used. In the U-assay, the QIAamp plasmid Mini Kit (Qiagen) was used to separate the low molecular weight DNA (LMW, consisting of unintegrated HIV DNA species) from the high molecular weight DNA (HMW, containing the integrated proviral HIV DNA). In the 2-LTR assay, the elongation time of 35 s, is not compatible with a reliable amplification of non-specific products. The HIV-1 DNA genome is not drawn to scale