Mathematical biology of HIV infections: antigenic variation and diversity threshold. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Mathematical biology of HIV infections: antigenic variation and diversity threshold.

Math Biosci. 1991 Sep;106(1):1-21. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/92199688
Nowak MA; May RM; Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, England.

Abstract: Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) results in severe damage to the immune system and consequent disease (AIDS) after a long and variable incubation period (on average 8-10 years). Why the incubation period should be so long is a puzzle. We outline an explanation based on the dynamics of the interplay between the immune response and antigenic variation in the virus population. The essential idea is that AIDS results when the diversity of antigenic variants of HIV in an infected patient exceeds some threshold, beyond which the immune system can no longer cope. The paper develops a simple mathematical model for this process, based on experimental observations, and explores several ramifications.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*IMMUNOLOGY *Antigenic Variation Antigens, Viral/GENETICS/*IMMUNOLOGY Human HIV/GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY HIV Infections/*IMMUNOLOGY Mathematics Models, Biological Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDimmunologyKWDantigenicvariationantigens,viral/genetics/KWDimmunologyhumanhiv/genetics/immunologyhivinfections/KWDimmunologymathematicsmodels,biologicalsupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tjournalarticle
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M9271067

Copyright © 1992 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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