Abstract
The contribution describes details of the virology of HIV, the causative agent of AIDS. The origin of HIV from non-human primates is related. The various genes and proteins of the virus are each outlined, with the more important and better known ones presented in more detail. The retroviral life cycle is described and the way in which this relates to the pathogenesis of HIV infection and the development of AIDS is summarized. The ability of the virus to produce many different variants of itself and the implications of this on its ability to evade the immune response and the development of drug resistance are also included. The contribution provides a general introduction to the virology of HIV and shows how understanding the virology and the lifecycle can help to explain the pathogenesis. It concludes with a brief summary of the research paths that may lead ultimately to control of HIV infection and of the AIDS epidemic.
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