2nd International AIDS Conference Paris, France - June 23-25, 1986

THE AIDS RETROVIRUS: AN UPDATE

Int Conf AIDS 1986 Jun 23-24; 2:5 (abstract no. SP1)

Luc Montagnier
Viral Oncology Unit, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France

Three and half years after its discovery, the AIDS retrovirus (LAV, HTLV-III, ARV, HIV) has revealed most of its characteristics.

Molecular sequencing of the proviral genome has shown besides the classical retroviral genes, 3 new open reading frames which are expressed into 3 proteins, which may be important in the control of virus expression and pathogenesis. Another important feature of the AIDS retrovirus is the high genetic variability between isolates, especially at the level of the envelope gene. Despite this variation, well conserved regions do exist, some of which are highly antigenic, other could be involved in the binding of the virus to target cells. The binding of the virus to T4 lymphocytes involves the T4 molecule itself, but whether a particular configuration of this molecule or its association to another protein is required for specific virus binding and penetration is still an open question. Recently, a simian retrovirus (STLV-III) and other human isolates from West Africa have been isolated and can be considered as belonging to the same group of primate retrolentiviruses. Of particular interest is LAV-II, which has been isolated from several West African patients with typical AIDS, LAV-II has the same biological properties (cytopathic effect and tropism for T4 lympocytes) as LAV-I, but has little homology with the latter at the level of its envelope protein. It could represent an independent branch in the molecular evolution of such retroviruses having evolved for a long time in West Africa.

The exact role of LAV_S in AIDS pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. The mechanism leading to a progressive and irreversible destruction of the T4 cell population remains complex and is likely to be indirectly caused by the viral infection.

1986-06-22
SP1

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