Abstract
Despite many years of intense research effort, the pathogenesis of HIV infection and AIDS is still poorly understood. Particularly, it is unclear to what extent the progressive immunodeficiency that follows HIV infection is caused by direct, virus-mediated killing of infected CD4+ T cells as opposed to the indirect consequences of the chronic immune system activation. Important advances in our understanding of HIV/AIDS pathogenesis came from a series of recent studies focusing on: (1) the immunological events characteristic of the acute and chronic phases of infection; (2) the impact of HIV infection at the level of mucosa associated lymphoid tissues; and (3) the specific features of natural, nonpathogenic SIV infection of African nonhuman primates. Collectively, these studies have defined a model for the immunopathogenesis of primate lentiviral infections that is more complex than previously appreciated and that highlights the key role played by host-related, species-specific factors. Ultimately, it is hoped that these advances will provide information that will be useful to the design of interventions able to successfully prevent and/or eradicate HIV infection in humans.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of Virology |
Publisher | Elsevier Ltd |
Pages | 534-542 |
Number of pages | 9 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780123739353 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780123744104 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- AIDS
- CD4+ T-lymphocyte
- Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte
- Dendritic cell
- HIV
- Immune activation
- Immune evasion
- Mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue
- Natural host
- Neutralizing antibody
- SIV
- Vaccine