title: HIV-2: the forgotten AIDS virus.
abstract: HIV type 2 (HIV-2), a closely related retrovirus discovered a few years after HIV type 1, causes AIDS in only a minority of infected individuals. Determining why HIV-2 causes asymptomatic infection in most patients could further our understanding of HIV immunopathogenesis. Studies to date have suggested that both enhanced immune responses and lower viral replication could play a role. We summarize the important findings to date and highlight areas that warrant further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratories, Atlantic Road, PO Box 273, Fajara, The Gambia, West Africa. tdesilva@mrc.gm
authors.forename: Thushan I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cotten
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rowland-Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies