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A substantial proportion of people infected with HIV-2, the second causative agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), behave as long-term non-progressors (LTNP) and are able to control the infection more effectively than most HIV-1-infected patients. A better understanding of the differences in the natural history of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection, and how these relate to the relative immunogenicity and evolution of the two virus strains, could provide important insights into the mechanisms of protective immunity in HIV infection. One of the most striking differences is that most people infected with HIV-2 generate high titers of broadly neutralizing antibodies, whereas this is relatively uncommon in HIV-1 infection. In this review we compare the underlying structural differences of the envelope (Env) between HIV-1 and HIV-2, and examine how these might affect the antibody responses as well as their impact on Env evolution and control of viral replication.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.imlet.2014.10.028

Type

Journal article

Journal

Immunology letters

Publication Date

01/2015

Volume

163

Pages

69 - 75

Addresses

MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom.

Keywords

Humans, HIV-1, HIV-2, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Evolution, Molecular, Species Specificity, env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus