Stuart Turville Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Last reviewed: December 2018 Introduction The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV-1 was initially identified by Luc Montanier at the Institute Pasteur, Paris, in 1983 [1] and was then more fully characterized in 1984 by Robert …
HIV is subdivided into two very broad types: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is by far the most common and broadly distributed HIV type, accounting for most HIV infections worldwide. HIV-2 is genetically closer to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) than HIV-1 and as a consequence, HIV-2 can be refractory towards certain HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and HIV …
The taxonomy of HIV and primate immunodeficiency viruses Read More »
HIV is classified into the family Retroviridae, subfamily Lentiviridae, and genus Lentivirus [20, 21]. The structure of HIV follows the typical pattern of a complex retrovirus family, comprising a single-stranded, positive-sense ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome of about 9.2 kilobases that encodes structural, enzymatic and accessory proteins. A HIV virion is largely spherical in shape, with …
The life cycle of a retrovirus is that of an obligatory intracellular parasite, and thus HIV cannot replicate outside of human cells. HIV binding and entry Infection of the host cell commences when HIV binds to specific receptors on the cell membrane. In general, the interaction requires the recognition of two host-cell surface-receptor proteins by …
Recent failures and successes of biomedical prevention in conjunction with studies of HIV discordant couples (ie. where one partner is HIV positive and the other HIV negative and thus at risk of acquisition of HIV infection), has led to seminal contributions which give us a greater understanding of how HIV is spread from person to …
Understanding the molecular virology of HIV infection has not only been essential for the development of antiretroviral drugs that block HIV replication but will also be crucial in the development of strategies for curing HIV infection. Present limitations on therapeutic driven cures The persistence of HIV infection in the face of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reflects …
Barre-Sinoussi, F., et al., Isolation of a T-lymphotropic retrovirus from a patient at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Science, 1983. 220(4599): p. 868-71. Gallo, R.C., et al., Isolation of human T-cell leukemia virus in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Science, 1983. 220(4599): p. 865-7. Levy, J.A., et al., Isolation of lymphocytopathic retroviruses from …
Developing a sustainable HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Workforce
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