Human immunodeficiency virus HIV is the chief contributor to global burden of disease. In , HIV was the fifth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years in people of all ages and leading cause for people aged 30—44 years. It is classified as a member of the family Retroviridae and genus Lentivirus based on the biological, morphological, and genetic properties.
Among these strains, HIV-1 is the most virulent and pathogenic. Advanced diagnostic methods are exploring new ways of treatment and contributing in the reduction of HIV cases. Antiretroviral therapy and vaccines are promising candidates in providing therapeutic and preventive regimes, respectively. Human immunodeficiency virus HIV originates from a monkey infecting virus, simian immunodeficiency virus SIV , and a number of theories have been described in this regard.
Many of the epidemiological, phylogenetic, and genomic characteristics of HIV are similar to those of SIV, and this strongly supports the idea of cross species transmission 1. HIV is classified as a member of the family Retroviridae and genus Lentivirus based on the biological, morphological, and genetic properties 2. Since then, virology of HIV and pathogenesis of infection are constantly being studied.
Among these strains, HIV-1 is the most virulent and pathogenic, and when people normally talk about HIV without stating the type of virus they are referring to HIV-1 4.
A detailed investigation on HIV structure and its mechanism of infection have not only allowed to characterize and develop new and effective vaccines and drugs but has also described new approaches for diagnosis of HIV at the laboratory scale 2.
