The Global Phenotypic Diversity of HIV-1: Implications for Pathogenesis, Vaccine, and Cure

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Background

More than four decades since the HIV-1 pandemic, an effective vaccine and functional cure strategy remain unavailable. The extensive genetic diversity of HIV-1 across the globe has been well demonstrated early during the pandemic. However, how such genetic-level variations translate into viral phenotypic traits and in turn influence the disease outcome, the effectiveness of preventative and therapeutic approaches remains poorly understood. Emerging evidence suggests differential phenotypic property and pathogenicity among diverse HIV-1 subtypes and CRFs. In particular, the identification of the “virulent B strain” recently emphasizes the need to closely monitor HIV-1 evolution at the phenotypic level. The ever-growing complexity of HIV-1 diversity poses increasing challenges to the development of preventative, treatment and functional cure approaches towards the goal to end the pandemic.

The goal of the current research topic is to explore the global phenotypic diversity of HIV-1, with a particular focus on phenotypic properties closely related to viral pathogenicity, vaccine, and functional cure strategies. We hope the knowledge obtained from experts with diverse HIV research backgrounds will advance our understanding of HIV-1 phenotypic diversity across the globe, with the long-term goal to more precisely inform preventative and treatment approaches in different geographic areas where distinct HIV-1 strains are circulating. Original Research articles, Case Reports, Reviews and Mini-Reviews, Hypotheses, as well as Perspective articles will be considered.

We suggest (but are not limited to) the following topics in relation to the phenotypic properties across different HIV-1 subtypes, CRFs, and genetic clusters:

• Phenotypic and pathogenicity properties of newly identified/emerged HIV-1 strains (subtypes, CRFs, and genetic clusters).
• Susceptibility to innate/adaptive immune responses and broadly neutralizing antibodies.
• Treatment outcomes and drug resistance.
• Outcomes of clinical trials, including vaccine, treatment, and functional cure.

Keywords: Vaccine, HIV-1, phenotypic diversity, viral pathogenicity, functional cure strategies, CRFs, genetic clusters

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