Mechanism of Cytotoxicity of the AIDS Virus, HTLV-III/LAV (Annual Report, March 31, 1988-March 30, 1989).

摘要

Understanding the mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 replication and cytopathicity is critical to determining the pathogenesis and treatment of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and associated diseases. Studies of related viruses, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and HIV-2, complement these studies and allow additional animal model systems for testing hypotheses. We have studies three aspects of HIV pathogenesis. First, a mutagenic analysis of HIV-1, SIV, and HIV-2 genes (including gag, env, vif, nef, and vpx) has been performed to decipher their role in replication and cytopathic activity. Second, immunopathogenetic consequences have been studied with respect to the characterization of a lymphotoxin-like molecule which is secreted by HIV-1 infected cells. Third, the structure and function of HIV-1 env variation has been studied in a clustered outbreak of HIV-1 infection to elucidate the role of envelope alterations in immune evasion and tissue tropism.