BIOLOGY OF HIV-RELATED VIRUSES

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

BIOLOGY OF HIV-RELATED VIRUSES

Retrovirus Biology and Human Disease. Gallo RC and Wong-Staal F, eds. Marcel Dekker, New York, p. 317-29, 1990.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/91676228
Kanki PJ; Essex M; Dept. of Cancer Biology, Harvard Sch. of Public Health, Boston,; MA

Abstract: The identification of HIV-1 as the causative agent of AIDS renewed interest in the search for related animal and human retroviruses. In the past 5 yr, two such viruses have been identified: simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2). SIV and HIV-2 are reviewed, including virology of SIV, host immunity to SIV, disease pathogenesis in SIV, and virology and biology of HIV-2. Early in 1985, SIV (previously termed STLV-3) was found in immunodeficient macaque monkeys and healthy African green monkeys. Based on its antigenic properties, SIV is the closest known animal retrovirus to HIV-1. The existence of a primate relative of HIV-1 in high numbers of naturally infected African primates suggested the possibility that humans might also be susceptible to infection with an SIV-related virus. In late 1985, HIV-2 was found in West African people. There is no doubt that the SIV system will play an important role in the continued research on HIV viruses. The close relationship of this simian virus to human AIDS viruses provides an excellent animal system for comparative studies. As standardization of SIV inoculation protocols in macaques is established, this system will provide a mechanism for AIDS drug and vaccine testing. The results of epidemiologic and clinical studies indicate that HIV-2 is not identical to HIV-1 in pathogenicity, as was once reported. Further studies are necessary to define the natural history and clinical significance of HIV-2 infection. This will be critical to health policy decisions in many West African countries where HIV-2 infection is common, as well as in other parts of the world where this virus is sure to become more widespread. Prospective clinical studies on HIV-2 are necessary to assess the clinical significance of this second human retrovirus and to determine its role in the development of AIDS. (55 Refs)

Keywords: Animal Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral/GENETICS Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/*PHYSIOLOGY Human HIV Infections/*MICROBIOLOGY HIV-1/*GENETICS HIV-2/*GENETICS Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*MICROBIOLOGY SIV/*GENETICS MONOGRAPH REVIEW

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