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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

References

Authors

Meg Burrows and Jynna Harrell