Viral Integration Site Analysis (VISA) for HIV studies

CRTP-15

For this service, the Genomics Technology Laboratory (GTL) will use its Viral Integration Site Analysis (VISA) technology—a technology developed in-house—to determine where a virus integrates into a genome and use that as a unique molecular barcode for the infected cells. Using VISA, scientists can map and track integration sites from millions of cells. 

Process

  • Uses linker-mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine where retrovirus integrates into the genome. 
    • High-throughput next-generation sequencing.
    • Sophisticated bioinformatics pipeline.

HIV expertise

Together with NCI investigators, the FNL’s Genomics Technology Laboratory pioneered the use of this technology to study the clonality of HIV provirus in HIV patients. The study revealed a new mechanism of HIV persistence in patients under long-term combinatorial antiviral therapy (Maldarelli et al, Science, 2014).

The service includes sufficient basic consultation with a subject matter expert.