title: Molecular virology and immunology of HIV infection.
abstract: Great progress has been made with respect to our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of AIDS and the infectious agent, HIV, that causes the disease. HIV, a human retrovirus with tropism for CD4(+) T cells and monocytes, induces a decrease of T-cell counts, T-cell dysfunction, and, ultimately, immunodeficiency. HIV also causes B-cell dysfunction characterized by polyclonal activation, hypergammaglobulinemia, and lack of specific antibody responses. Chemokine receptors-mainly CCR5 and CXCR4-have been found to be necessary for viral entry into the host cell, a step that can be inhibited by chemokine-related molecules that are ligands for those receptors. After HIV infection, a strong cellular immunity develops and partially controls viral replication. It can take several years for HIV infection to become clinically evident. Studies in long-term nonprogressors have shown the determinant roles of both helper and cytotoxic T cells in the control of HIV disease. Advances in HIV immunology research are currently being applied in the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chinen
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Shearer
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000818:Animals; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines