THE HUMAN RETROVIRUSES

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

THE HUMAN RETROVIRUSES

The Human Retroviruses. Gallo RC and Jay G, eds. San Diego, Academic Press, 421 p., 1991.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/92678718
Anonymous; No affiliation given

Abstract: Until about 1950, RNA tumor viruses, as retroviruses were then called, were only known in chickens. The mouse mammary tumor virus had been discovered in the 1930s, but it was not recognized as an RNA tumor virus. Some 200 million people are infected with hepatitis B virus, 10 million are infected with HIV-1, and an unknown number of others are infected with HIV-2, human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-I, and HTLV-II. Also, the human genome contains numerous retrovirus-related proviruses (endogenous retroviruses) and other sequences related to retroviruses, and over 10% of the human genome is the result of reverse transcription. Human retroviruses are reviewed in the following chapters: positive and negative regulation of HTLV-I gene expression and replication (function of the rex gene); HTLV-II; HIV gene structure and genetic diversity; HIV gene expression and function; biology of HTLV infection; receptors for human retroviruses; immunopathologic mechanisms of HIV infection; HTLV infection (clinical perspective); epidemiology of HTLV-I; HIV infections in the United States; an international perspective on AIDS; the disease mechanism of HTLV-I in a transgenic mouse system; simian immunodeficiency virus from Old World monkeys; transgenic mouse model of HIV-induced Kaposi's sarcoma; the SCID-hu mouse as a model for HIV infection; prospects for immunotherapy in adult T-cell leukemia; toward a rational design of antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection; CD4-PE40 (a chimeric toxin active against HIV-infected cells); and vaccines against AIDS.

Keywords: Animal Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/*PHYSIOLOGY Human HIV/GENETICS/PATHOGENICITY HTLV-I/GENETICS/PATHOGENICITY HTLV-II/GENETICS/PATHOGENICITY Retroviridae/*GENETICS/PATHOGENICITY Retroviridae Infections/*GENETICS/MICROBIOLOGY Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic/*GENETICS Virulence Virus Replication/GENETICS/PHYSIOLOGY MONOGRAPH

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