Murine and simian retrovirus models: the threshold hypothesis.
By considering the dynamic relationship between retroviruses and their hosts, we have developed a unifying hypothesis to explain such disparate clinical phenomena as differential pathogenicity of a given virus in adults and neonates, transient infection with clearance of provirus-containing cells, long-term non-progression and vaccine effects of fully pathogenic viruses. The threshold hypothesis predicts that an opportunity exists during acute retroviral infection to influence the ultimate clinical outcome: if virus replication is kept below threshold by any means, including drug therapy or passive immunoprophylaxis with neutralizing antibodies, the host will prevail and win the race.
Ruprecht
R M
RM
Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Baba
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TW
Rasmussen
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R
Hu
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Sharma
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PL
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D012190:Retroviridae