Current understanding of AIDS pathogenesis

From the mid 1990s, considerable progress has been achieved in understanding the biology of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and the pathogenesis of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, these achievements are still not sufficient to indicate the reasons for failure of the host immune response in suppressing HIV-1 infection and why the immune system collapses at the end of the clinical latency period, followed by progression to the terminal course of the disease. A more complete view of the dynamics of AIDS pathogenesis may greatly facilitate the development of novel and ambitious therapeutic interventions, that are needed to counteract the onset of HIV-1 variants resistant to current antiretroviral treatments, to ensure affordable therapy programs for developing countries, and, in the long term, to eradicate the virus from patients and to confer protective immunity to HIV-1 infection.