Trofile assay
Encyclopedia
The Trofile assay is a blood test that identifies the tropism
of a patient's HIV
.
A molecular assay
, Trofile was developed by Monogram Biosciences
for use in HIV
treatment. The assay's purpose is to identify the tropism
of an individual patient's HIV strain – R5, X4, or a combination of these known as dual/mixed (D/M). The results show whether the patient is infected with virus that enters cells using the R5
co-receptor, the X4
co-receptor, or both (dual/mixed).
Patients with strains of HIV that prefer the R5 receptor tend to remain healthy longer than those with the strains that prefer X4. However, over the course of the disease, a patient's viral population may undergo a "tropism switch" from R5 to X4.
HIV tropism
HIV tropism refers to the cell type that the human immunodeficiency virus infects and replicates in. HIV tropism of a patient's virus is measured by the Trofile assay....
of a patient's HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
.
A molecular assay
Assay
An assay is a procedure in molecular biology for testing or measuring the activity of a drug or biochemical in an organism or organic sample. A quantitative assay may also measure the amount of a substance in a sample. Bioassays and immunoassays are among the many varieties of specialized...
, Trofile was developed by Monogram Biosciences
Monogram Biosciences
Monogram Biosciences Inc. , a wholly owned subsidiary of LabCorp, is an international biotechnology laboratory located in South San Francisco, California, USA...
for use in HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
treatment. The assay's purpose is to identify the tropism
HIV tropism
HIV tropism refers to the cell type that the human immunodeficiency virus infects and replicates in. HIV tropism of a patient's virus is measured by the Trofile assay....
of an individual patient's HIV strain – R5, X4, or a combination of these known as dual/mixed (D/M). The results show whether the patient is infected with virus that enters cells using the R5
CCR5
C-C chemokine receptor type 5, also known as CCR5, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CCR5 gene. CCR5 is a member of the beta chemokine receptors family of integral membrane proteins...
co-receptor, the X4
CXCR4
C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 also known as fusin or CD184 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CXCR4 gene.- Function :...
co-receptor, or both (dual/mixed).
Patients with strains of HIV that prefer the R5 receptor tend to remain healthy longer than those with the strains that prefer X4. However, over the course of the disease, a patient's viral population may undergo a "tropism switch" from R5 to X4.
External links
- TrofileAssay.com Monogram Biosciences' Trofile assay website
- Four Studies Affirm Significance Of Monogram's Trofile(TM) HIV Co-Receptor Tropism Assay from Medical News Today, August 14, 2006
- Monogram Provides Update On Trofile(TM) Assay from Medical News Today, March 2, 2007
- Scientific Data Highlights Pivotal Role Of Monogram's Molecular Diagnostics In Development And Use Of New HIV Treatments from Medical News Today, March 7, 2007