Molecular Insights Into HIV Biology

According to the latest UN estimates, worldwide over 40 million people are infected with HIV, and the prevalence levels for this virus will continue to rise globally. Historically, vaccines have proven to be the most effective weapon in our fight against infectious diseases such as small pox, polio, measles, and yellow fever. HIV vaccines are our best hope to end the HIV pandemic.

Bringing the global HIV epidemic under control will require more effective approaches to prevent the spread of the retrovirus, as well as broader use of existing and future antiretroviral drugs. These interventions must be applicable in the developing world, where HIV has the most severe impact. Understanding the dynamic interplay of HIV with its cellular host provides the biological basis for controlling the epidemic. This chapter reviews current understanding of the HIV life cycle, with particular attention to the interactions between viral proteins and cellular machinery, and highlights promising future points of attack.