PROGRESS AND PUZZLES: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF HTLV-III NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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PROGRESS AND PUZZLES: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF HTLV-III

AIDS: Modern Concepts and Therapeutic Challenges. Broder S, ed. New York, Marcel Dekker, p. 53-62, 1987.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/89650438
Haseltine WA; Sodroski JG; Rosen CA; Lab. of Biochemical Pharmacology, Dana-Farber Cancer Inst.,; Boston, MA

Abstract: The molecular biology of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-III is reviewed and unanswered questions are discussed. Topics include gag, pol, and env genes; features of HTLV-III that account for some of the unusual features of the virus life cycle and disease; sor, tat, and 3'orf genes; the role of tat-coded proteins in the virus life cycle; the role of the tat gene in HTLV-III-induced pathogenesis; and possible roles for sor and 3'orf genes. HTLV-III is an unusual retrovirus inducing a new and unusual disease. Significant areas of progress leading to understanding and control of HTLV-III are (1) development of reverse transcriptase inhibitors suitable for use in humans, such as azidothymidine, which appears to show some clinical efficacy without major toxicity; (2) development of tests of immunoreactivity of the envelope glycoprotein in animals; and (3) identification of new potential targets for antiviral therapies, such as the tat gene product. Puzzles remain regarding mechanisms of virus growth and latency, and much remains to be learned about the mechanisms of pathogenesis. However, with the anticipated continued rapid progress, prospects are bright for control of this virus. (51 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*GENETICS/THERAPY Chromosome Deletion Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral *Genes, Viral Human HIV/*GENETICS Prognosis Retroviridae Proteins/GENETICS RNA, Messenger/GENETICS Viral Envelope Proteins/GENETICS Virus Replication MONOGRAPH REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDgenetics/therapychromosomedeletioncytopathogeniceffect,viralKWDgenes,viralhumanhiv/KWDgeneticsprognosisretroviridaeproteins/geneticsrna,messenger/geneticsviralenvelopeproteins/geneticsvirusreplicationmonographreviewreview,tutorial
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Copyright © 1989 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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