> Findings from the breakthrough NIH-funded HPTN 052 clinical trial, a decade-long study involving more than 1,600 heterosexual couples, offered clear-cut evidence that ART that consistently suppresses HIV also prevents sexual transmission of the virus. In 2011, the HPTN 052 investigators reported that starting ART when the immune system is relatively healthy, as opposed to delaying therapy until the immune system has been weakened by the virus, dramatically reduces the risk of sexually transmitting HIV. The protective effect of starting ART early was sustained over four additional years of follow-up. Importantly, when viral loads were measured, no HIV transmissions were observed when ART consistently, durably suppressed the virus in the partner living with HIV.
Wild speculation is that the genetic material you mention is inactivated and therefore unable to transmit the virus, but is still detectable. I am just an internet rando surfing the knowledge graph, but the science appears sound.
> Findings from the breakthrough NIH-funded HPTN 052 clinical trial, a decade-long study involving more than 1,600 heterosexual couples, offered clear-cut evidence that ART that consistently suppresses HIV also prevents sexual transmission of the virus. In 2011, the HPTN 052 investigators reported that starting ART when the immune system is relatively healthy, as opposed to delaying therapy until the immune system has been weakened by the virus, dramatically reduces the risk of sexually transmitting HIV. The protective effect of starting ART early was sustained over four additional years of follow-up. Importantly, when viral loads were measured, no HIV transmissions were observed when ART consistently, durably suppressed the virus in the partner living with HIV.
Wild speculation is that the genetic material you mention is inactivated and therefore unable to transmit the virus, but is still detectable. I am just an internet rando surfing the knowledge graph, but the science appears sound.
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/hiv-control-th...
https://web.archive.org/web/20150106032855/http://www.niaid....
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00074581