TROFILE ASSAY Meaning and
Definition
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Trofile assay is a laboratory test used to determine the tropism of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for specific co-receptors on target cells. Tropism refers to the ability of a virus to infect specific types of cells or tissues in the body. In the case of HIV, the virus can have either CCR5-tropic or CXCR4-tropic tropism.
The trofile assay involves extracting viral RNA from the patient's blood and amplifying specific regions of the HIV genome that are responsible for determining tropism. This amplified viral DNA is then introduced into cell lines that express the CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptor, which are essential for HIV cell entry. The assay measures the ability of the patient's virus to infect these cell lines, determining whether the virus is primarily CCR5-tropic, CXCR4-tropic, or a mixture of both.
Trofile assay results are crucial for guiding antiretroviral therapy decisions, particularly in patients with multidrug resistance or treatment failure. It helps to select the most appropriate antiretroviral drugs by determining whether a patient's virus is susceptible to drugs that target specific co-receptors. For example, CCR5 inhibitors are only effective against CCR5-tropic strains, while CXCR4 inhibitors target CXCR4-tropic strains.
In summary, the trofile assay is a diagnostic tool that aids in determining which co-receptor the patient's HIV virus uses to infect cells. This information assists healthcare professionals in making informed decisions regarding treatment strategies for individuals with HIV infection.
Etymology of TROFILE ASSAY
The word "trofile assay" is a combination of two terms: "trofile" and "assay".
1. Trofile: The term "trofile" is derived from the Greek word "trophē", meaning nourishment or food. In the context of medicine, it is used to describe the types or strains of viruses that are capable of infecting and replicating within specific cell types. In the case of HIV, there are two major strains: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 can be further classified into various tropisms, including R5, X4, or mixed R5X4. The term "trofile" specifically refers to the co-receptor usage of HIV-1 strains, determining which type of cells it can infect.
2. Assay: The term "assay" originates from the Old French word "assai", meaning to try or test.
