Abstract
The devastating consequences of AIDS pandemic will probably only be controlled when a vaccine is developed that is safe, effective, affordable, and simple enough to permit implementation in developing countries where the impact of AIDS is most severe. However, the major obstacle for the control of the spread of AIDS lies in the diversity of HIV and its enormous evolutionary potential. Numerous HIV forms contribute to the AIDS pandemic. Two viral types (HIV-1 and HIV-2), numerous groups (M, N and O for HIV-1 and A through H for HIV-2) and numerous subtypes, sub-subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRF) have emerged during the last 50 years. At least nine different genetic HIV-1 subtypes and over 20 CRFs were defined within group M, which accounts for the majority of cases in the AIDS pandemic. Even though HIV-1 subtype C and A predominate globally, the other viral forms co-circulate all over the world and may have a major impact for the strategies of pandemic control. Here we discuss the distribution of these divergent viral forms worldwide and the potential consequences of such a tremendous viral diversity for diagnostic, monitoring, treatment and the development of an effective vaccine.
Keywords: HIV diversity, subtypes, molecular epidemiology, vaccine, viral load, screening tests, antiretroviral treatments
Current HIV Research
Title: HIV Genetic Diversity: Biological and Public Health Consequences
Volume: 5 Issue: 1
Author(s): Isolde F. Butler, Ivona Pandrea, Preston A. Marx and Cristian Apetrei
Affiliation:
Keywords: HIV diversity, subtypes, molecular epidemiology, vaccine, viral load, screening tests, antiretroviral treatments
Abstract: The devastating consequences of AIDS pandemic will probably only be controlled when a vaccine is developed that is safe, effective, affordable, and simple enough to permit implementation in developing countries where the impact of AIDS is most severe. However, the major obstacle for the control of the spread of AIDS lies in the diversity of HIV and its enormous evolutionary potential. Numerous HIV forms contribute to the AIDS pandemic. Two viral types (HIV-1 and HIV-2), numerous groups (M, N and O for HIV-1 and A through H for HIV-2) and numerous subtypes, sub-subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRF) have emerged during the last 50 years. At least nine different genetic HIV-1 subtypes and over 20 CRFs were defined within group M, which accounts for the majority of cases in the AIDS pandemic. Even though HIV-1 subtype C and A predominate globally, the other viral forms co-circulate all over the world and may have a major impact for the strategies of pandemic control. Here we discuss the distribution of these divergent viral forms worldwide and the potential consequences of such a tremendous viral diversity for diagnostic, monitoring, treatment and the development of an effective vaccine.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Butler F. Isolde, Pandrea Ivona, Marx A. Preston and Apetrei Cristian, HIV Genetic Diversity: Biological and Public Health Consequences, Current HIV Research 2007; 5 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016207779316297
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016207779316297 |
Print ISSN 1570-162X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4251 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Management of HIV: Management of HIV: old challenges and new needs
The aim of this thematic issue is to provide the most recent updates regarding the effective management of HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly decreased HIV-related mortality, leading to an enhancement in the quality of life and life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH). Despite the numerous advancements ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Applied Computational Techniques on Schizophrenia Using Genetic Mutations
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Overcoming Drug Resistance by Enhancing Apoptosis of Tumor Cells
Current Cancer Drug Targets Immunomodulatory Gene Therapy in Lysosomal Storage Disorders
Current Gene Therapy Review of Childhood Obesity (Balar Athidhoola Rogam) in Traditional Siddha Indian Medicine
Current Traditional Medicine Postpartum Depression in Women with the FMR1 Premutation
Current Psychiatry Reviews The Yin and Yang of Inflammation
Current Molecular Medicine Developments in Growth Hormone Delivery
Current Drug Therapy Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibitors - emerging roles in neuronal memory, learning, synaptic plasticity and neural regeneration
Current Neuropharmacology Hyperuricaemia and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): A Relationship with Implications for Vascular Risk?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Pin1: A New Genetic Link between Alzheimer’s Disease, Cancer and Aging
Current Aging Science Epigenetics in Alzheimers Disease: a Focus on DNA Modifications
Current Pharmaceutical Design Evidence for Epigenetic Alterations in Turner Syndrome Opens up Feasibility of New Pharmaceutical Interventions
Current Pharmaceutical Design GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Type 1 Diabetes - Where Do We Stand?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Intestinal Absorption Enhancement Via the Paracellular Route by Fatty Acids, Chitosans and Others: A Target for Drug Delivery
Current Drug Delivery New Approaches for Antithrombotic Antiplatelet Therapies
Current Medicinal Chemistry Mast Cells in Allergic and Inflammatory Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Genetic Mapping of Pharmacogenetic Regulatory Variation
Current Pharmaceutical Design Heme Oxygenase-1 as a Target for the Design of Gene and Pharmaceutical Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases
Current Gene Therapy Phytotherapeutic and Natural Compound Applications for Age-Related, Inflammatory and Serious Eye Ailments
Current Molecular Pharmacology The Tumor Suppressor Gene ARF as a Sensor of Oxidative Stress
Current Molecular Medicine