Recent advances in the understanding of HIV accessory protein function.

Abstract

In addition to the structural proteins required for viral replication HIV expresses several additional proteins. Although these proteins are not required for viral replication in tissue culture systems they are important factors for the development of pathogenesis. These factors known as accessory proteins include the HIV proteins Nef Vpr Vpu and Vif. The accessory proteins are a defining feature of lentiviruses and are necessary for HIV to cause AIDS. Because the accessory proteins play an important role in causing the clinical manifestations of HIV disease they have become potential targets for antiviral therapies and many basic research studies have been designed to gain an understanding of their modes of action. The following discussion highlights a number of important insights that have emerged over the past year into how this important class of HIV protein functions. (excerpt)