Recent Insights into the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

摘要

Etiology, transmission and protection: Transmission of HIV, the causative agent of AIDS, occurs predominantly through bodily fluids. Factors that significantly alter the risk of HIV transmission include male circumcision, condom use, high viral load, and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. Pathology/Symptomatology: HIV infects preferentially CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, and Monocytes. Because of their central role in regulating the immune response, depletion of CD4⁺ T cells renders the infected individual incapable of adequately responding to microorganisms otherwise inconsequential. Epidemiology, incidence and prevalence: New HIV infections affect predominantly young heterosexual women and homosexual men. While the mortality rates of AIDS related causes have decreased globally in recent years due to the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treatment, a vaccine remains an elusive goal. Treatment and curability: For those afflicted HIV infection remains a serious illness. Nonetheless, the use of advanced therapeutics have transformed a dire scenario into a chronic condition with near average life spans. When to applythose remedies appears to be as important as the remedies themselves. The highrate of HIV replication and the ability to generate variants are central to theviral survival strategy and major barriers to be overcome. Molecularmechanisms of infection: In this review, we assemble new detailson the molecular events from the attachment of the virus, to the assembly andrelease of the viral progeny. Yet, much remains to be learned as understandingof the molecular mechanisms used in viral replication and the measures engagedin the evasion of immune surveillance will be important to develop effectiveinterventions to address the global HIV pandemic.