During the last 5 years, major advances have been made in our understanding of the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and in the development of new potent antiviral agents. With regard to HIV pathogenesis, several recent observations have not only changed our perspectives of HIV disease, but have been critical for the design of therapeutic strategies. Contens.- Introduction: Recent advances in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus infection.- Virologic and immunologic events in primary HIV infection.- The role of viral dynamics in the pathogenesis of HIV disease and implications for antiviral therapy.- Immune dysregulation and CD4+ T cell loss in HIV-1 infection.- Studies on lymphoid tissue from HIV-infected individuals: implications for the design of therapeutic strategies.- Mechanisms of resistance to HIV infection.- HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and the control of HIV-1 replication.- Noncytolytic CD8 T cell-mediated suppression of HIV replication.- Role of complement and Fc receptors in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.- Simian immunodeficiency virus as a model of HIV pathogenesis.
