查看文章

HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 share many similarities including their basic gene arrangement, modes of transmission, intracellular replication pathways and clinical consequences: both result in AIDS. However, HIV‐2 is characterised by lower transmissibility and reduced likelihood of progression to AIDS. The underlying mechanistic differences between these two infections illuminate broader issues of retroviral pathogenesis, which remain incompletely understood. Comparisons between these two infections from epidemiological, clinical, virologic and immunologic viewpoints provide a basis for hypothesis generation and testing in this ‘natural experiment’ in viral pathogenesis.

In terms of epidemiology, HIV‐2 remains largely confined to West Africa, whereas HIV‐1 extends worldwide. Clinically, HIV‐2 infected individuals seem to dichotomise, most remaining long‐term non‐progressors, whereas most HIV‐1 infected …