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. 2009 Jul-Aug;10(4):282-5.
doi: 10.1310/hct1004-282.

Effect of HIV-1 infection on human DNA yield from saliva

Rebecca J Basham  1 , Danielle M Richardson, Cara B Sutcliffe, David W Haas
Affiliations

Effect of HIV-1 infection on human DNA yield from saliva

Rebecca J Basham et al. HIV Clin Trials. 2009 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: Saliva is a good source of DNA for genomic research, and leukocytes are a predominant source of DNA in human saliva. Advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-type 1 infection disrupts tonsillar architecture and depletes tonsillar lymphocytes. We tested whether HIV-1 infection reduces extracted human DNA yield from saliva.

Methods: Approximately 2 mL of expectorated saliva was collected from HIV-infected adults during routine primary care clinic visits and from healthy, HIV-negative controls. Human DNA was manually extracted and was specifically quantified by assaying for the RNAse P gene.

Results: Seventy-five individuals were studied, including 25 HIV-infected adults with <200 CD4+ T cells/mm(3) (i.e., acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), 25 with >200 CD4+ T cells/mm3, and 25 HIV-negative controls. Overall DNA yield was 64.7 microg [29.0-139.7 microg] (median [interquartile range]). Yields were comparable among HIV-infected individuals with lower CD4+ T cell counts (74.3 microg [39.4-151.4 microg]), higher CD4+ T cell counts (63.9 microg [29.2-172.1 microg]), and HIV-negative controls (61.4 microg [28.4-123.4 microg]) (p > .05).

Conclusion: Infection with HIV-1 does not reduce human DNA yield from saliva. Expectorated saliva should provide sufficient extracted native DNA for genomic studies in HIV-infected individuals.

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Conflict of interest statement

David W. Haas has received research grants from Bavarian Nordic, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Merck, Tanox, and Tibotec. He is on scientific advisory boards for Glaxo Smith Kline and Tibotec. Rebecca Basham, Danielle Richardson and Cara Sutcliffe have no conflicts.

Figures

Figure
Figure. Extracted human DNA yield from expectorated saliva
Each marker represents a different study participant. DNA was extracted from 500 μL of each ~4 mL specimen, which comprised ~2 mL of saliva plus 2 mL of Oragene DNA solution. Total human DNA yield was estimated by multiplying yield from 500 μL by a factor of 8.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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