Is HIV-1 evolving to a less virulent form in humans?
During the rapid spread of HIV-1 in humans, the main (M) group of HIV-1 has evolved into ten distinct subtypes, undergone countless recombination events and diversified extensively. The impact of this extreme genetic diversity on the phenotype of HIV-1 has only recently become a research focus, but early findings indicate that the dominance of HIV-1 subtype C in the current epidemic might be related to the lower virulence of this subtype compared with other subtypes. Here, we explore whether HIV-1 has reached peak virulence or has already started the slow path to attenuation.
Ariën
Kevin K
KK
HIV and Retrovirology Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
Vanham
Guido
G
Arts
Eric J
EJ
D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D019562:Viral Load; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication