*3.2. Viral Load Dynamics*

A viral load was measured at screening and at visits 2 and 6–11 by real-time PCR analysis. Transient viral increases above 50 copies/mL (viral blips) were analyzed. Table 3 presents the data on viral load analysis.



The relative frequency of the viral blips as well as the number of patients with viral blips in the placebo group and the vaccinated groups did not differ (Table 3). But the magnitude of some transient viral increases was much higher in groups receiving the candidate DNA vaccine. The biggest blips were detected in the group receiving 0.25 mg of the vaccine (patients # 21 and 37) and made up 2800 and 18,000 copies/mL, respectively. There were gradual increases and then decreases of the viral load in participant #21. The third largest blip, 709 copies/mL, was found in 0.5 mg group in patient #43 (Appendix B Table A1).
