HIV-1 Glycoprotein Immunogenicity

Abstract

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a C-type enveloped retrovirus (classification based on morphology of retroviruses electron microscopy) of the Retroviridae family. It’s consisting in a genome of 2 positive stranded RNA molecules and a specific polymerase reverse transcriptase enzyme (RT). The viral RNA is reverse transcribed by RT into a double-stranded DNA molecule which is then integrated into the genome of infected cells (figure 1). The virus is wrapped by a bilayer membrane derived from the host cell. Homotrimers of the viral glycoprotein gp160 are inserted in the envelope (figure 1). Several cellular proteins are also incorporated into the viral membrane with relative abundance, including MHC class I and II molecules and intracellular adhesion molecule. Lentiviruses, to which HIV belongs, cause disease with a 'slow' evolution preceded by a period of clinical latency. Apart from humans, lentiviruses infect several other species of mammals such as