The population biology of the interaction between HIV-1 and HIV-2: coexistence or competitive exclusion?
BACKGROUND
The emergence and rapid world-wide spread of HIV provides an unusual opportunity for the study of the evolution and maintenance of virulence in a major human pathogen.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the available biological and epidemiological data on the pathogenicity, transmissibility and antigenic similarity of HIV-1 and HIV-2, and use simple mathematical models of competition between the two viral types within a defined host community.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis revealed a positive association between pathogenicity and reproductive success. A mathematical model of the concomitant transmission of the two viruses suggests that HIV-1 will competitively displace HIV-2 in the longer term in areas where both viruses are being transmitted within the same sexually active population.
Anderson
R M
RM
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK.
May
R M
RM
D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014774:Virulence