Accession Number:

ADA235024

Title:

Mechanism of Cytotoxicity of the AIDS Virus, HTLV-III/LAV

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 31 Mar 1987-30 Jun 1990

Corporate Author:

WASHINGTON UNIV ST LOUIS MO

Personal Author(s):

• Ratner, Lee

Report Date:

1990-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

23.0

Abstract:

Understanding the mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus HIV type 1 replication and cytopathicity is critical to determining the pathogenesis and treatment of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS and associated diseases. Studies of related viruses, simian immunodeficiency virus SIV and HIV-2, complement these studies and allow additional animal model systems for testing hypotheses. We have studied three aspect of HIV pathogenesis. First, a mutagenic analysis of HIV-1, SIV, and HIV-2 genes including gag, env, vif, vpr, nef, and vpx has been performed to decifer their role in replication and cytopathic activity. Second, immunopathogenetic consequences have been studied with respect to the characterization of a lymphotoxin-like molecule which is secreted by HIV-1 infected cells. Third, the structure and function of HIV-1 env variation has been studied in a clustered outbreak of HIV-1 to elucidate the role of envelope alteration in immune evasion and tissue tropism.

Descriptors:

• *MODELS
• DISEASES
• ANIMALS
• HYPOTHESES
• PATHOLOGY
• EVASION
• VIRUSES
• IMMUNITY
• HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUSES
• ENVELOPE(SPACE)
• PATHOGENESIS
• ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
• CYTOPATHOLOGY

Subject Categories:

• Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology
• Medicine and Medical Research
• Guided Missile Warheads and Fuzes

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE