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Origins of HIV and the evolution of resistance to AIDS.

Heeney JL, Dalgleish AG, Weiss RA

Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk 2280 GH, Netherlands. heeney@bprc.nl

The cross-species transmission of lentiviruses from African primates to humans has selected viral adaptations which have subsequently facilitated human-to-human transmission. HIV adapts not only by positive selection through mutation but also by recombination of segments of its genome in individuals who become multiply infected. Naturally infected nonhuman primates are relatively resistant to AIDS-like disease despite high plasma viral loads and sustained viral evolution. Further understanding of host resistance factors and the mechanisms of disease in natural primate hosts may provide insight into unexplored therapeutic avenues for the prevention of AIDS.

Published 28 July 2006 in Science, 313(5786): 462-6.
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