VIOLIN: Vaccine Investigation and Online Information Network

Pathogen Page

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

General Information
Vaccine Related Pathogen Genes
Vaccine Related Host Genes
1. ANXI
2. human IFNG
3. IFNG
4. Ifng (Interferon gamma)
5. IFNG from Macaca nemestrina
6. IgA
7. IgA Fc fragment
8. IgG
9. IgG Fc fragment
10. IgG2b
11. Ighg1
12. Ighv1-9
13. IL-6
14. Il12a
15. Il2
16. IL2
17. IL2
18. IL4
19. Il4 (interleukin 4)
20. Il5
21. TNF
22. TNF-a from Papio anubis
23. TNF-alpha
Vaccine Information
References

I. General Information

1. NCBI Taxonomy ID:

12721

2. Disease:

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

3. Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Within bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and as virus within infected immune cells. So far, AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in recorded history. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries. Most HIV-infected individuals develop AIDS and die; however, about 10% remains healthy for many years, with no noticeable symptoms. Treatment with anti-retrovirals increases the life expectancy of people infected with HIV (Palella et al., 1998; Buchbinder et al., 1994).

4. Microbial Pathogenesis

The 3 major routes of HIV transmission are sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth, or through breast milk. HIV primarily infects vital cells in the human immune system such as helper T cells (specifically CD4+ T cells), macrophages, and dendritic cells. This decreases CD4+ T cells through direct viral killing of infected cells, increased rates of apoptosis in infected cells, and killing of infected CD4+ T cells by CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes that recognize infected cells. When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is lost, and the body becomes progressively more susceptible to opportunistic infections (Chan et al., 1997).

5. Host Ranges and Animal Models

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981. Globally, ~40 million people currently live with HIV. Sub-Saharan Africa remains by far the worst-affected region. More than 64% of all people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa, as are more than three quarters of all women living with HIV. Two-thirds of HIV/AIDS infections in Asia occur in India, with an estimated 6 million infections, surpassing South Africa's 5.5 million infections, making India the country with the highest number of HIV infections in the world (Palella et al., 1998).

6. Host Protective Immunity

HIV can infect a variety of immune cells such as CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and microglial cells. HIV-1 entry to macrophages and T cells is mediated through interaction of the virion envelope glycoproteins (gp120) with the CD4 molecule on target cells and also with chemokine coreceptors. Macrophages play a key role in several critical aspects of HIV infection. They appear to be the first cells infected by HIV and perhaps the source of HIV production when CD4+ cells become depleted in the patient. T-tropic isolates, or syncitia-inducing (SI) strains replicate in primary CD4+ T cells as well as in macrophages. Dual-tropic HIV-1 strains are thought to be transitional strains of the HIV-1 virus. HIV can also infect a subtype of myeloid dendritic cells, which probably constitute a reservoir that maintains infection when CD4+ T cell numbers have declined to extremely low levels (Chan et al., 1997; Coakley et al., 2005; Deng et al., 1996; Knight et al., 1990).

Loading Pathogen Genes...

Loading Host Genes...

Loading Vaccines...

Loading References...

Table of Contents