HIV–host interactions: a map of viral perturbation of the host system

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Since the 1980s, the rapid progression of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has prompted a major international research effort. As a result, the current knowledge on HIV biology, its evolution, and origins [1–5] exceeds that of many, if not all, other viruses. One of the most important areas of HIV research is the detailed understanding of HIV replication. As with all viruses, HIV must exploit the host’s cellular machinery and metabolism to copy its genetic material, synthesize viral proteins, and assemble new virions. The viral replication cycle is thus dependent on an intricate network of direct and indirect protein interactions: between the viral proteins, between the virus and the host, and ultimately between the various host proteins that constitute the subverted cellular systems. When we also take into account the host’s immune response and intrinsic antiviral factors, there are clearly a large number of host–pathogen relationships that are important to our full understanding of HIV biology. However, until recently [6], this valuable information has remained ‘locked’ in the published literature, making it time-consuming to study by individual researchers and inaccessible to computational analysis, thus hindering the progress of research. Here we highlight new developments in the area of host–pathogen systems biology that in our opinion will provide helpful insights to the HIVresearch community.