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Introduction
Structural Highlights of HIV-1 protease
Structural Highlights of HIV-2 protease
HIV-1 Protease in Humans
HIV-1 is more transmissible than HIV-2 and is more likely to lead to AIDS in a patient. “HIV-1 protease (PR) is a virus-encoded proteolytic enzyme that is initially systemized as part of the GagPol polyprotein” (Huang et. al, 2013). HIV-1 protease belongs to Clan AA, family A2 of the aspartic proteases. Aspartic proteases are the smallest group of proteases found in humans (Huang et. al, 2013).
HIV-2 Protease in Humans
The role of CD4+ T cell
The CD4+ T cell is a lymphocyte, also known as a white blood cell, that fights infection. HIV attacks the CD+ T cell by binding and replicating through the CD4 + T cell. HIV kills CD4+ T cells which results in low immunity. An HIV-infected person with very low CD4+ T cells can develop AIDS. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV can remain latent in the body through memory T cells. Because HIV can remain latent in the body, patients with HIV can experience periods without symptoms. Patients who do die from HIV/AIDS die from secondary infections because of their compromised immunity from low CD4+ T cells. Most infections that kill HIV/AID patients are opportunistic infections. Research suggests that HIV-1 is better at killing CD4+ T cells than HIV-2. This is one reason why HIV-1 is more likely to progress into AIDS than HIV-2 (Vijayan et. al, 2017).
Protease Inhibitors for HIV-1 Treatment
For HIV-1, protease inhibition is one method of five methods for controlling HIV-1. The HIV-1 protease protein is encoded within the pol gene. This gene holds the information for the replication of HIV. This means that the gene holds HIV-1 protease, as well as reverse transcriptase and integrase proteins (Blassel et. al, 2021). HIV-1 protease inhibitors are a method of treatment for HIV-1. However, HIV-1 protease inhibitors can lead to mutations within an individual and this is why they are classified as a treatment, but not a control. It is a constant chase to find which PR inhibitor works for a patient, and for how long it will work (Blassel et. al, 2021). HIV-1 protease inhibitors work by binding to the protease to prevent the protease from breaking down proteins. (López-Otín et. al, 2008).
Protease Inhibitors for HIV-2 Treatment
Evolution's Role
HIV Prevention
Prevention plays an important role in public health in limiting HIV infection rates. Even with partners who both have HIV, safe sex is important because it is difficult to determine HIV-1 infections, from HIV-2 infections, from dual infections. (Hønge et. al, 2018). Furthermore, a partner of a patient with HIV is suggested to take preventative medicine.
References
Authors
Meg Burrows and Jynna Harrell
