Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-1, HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus Nef proteins

• Published in: Molecular aspects of medicine Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 418 - 433
• Main Authors: Laguette, Nadine, Brégnard, Christelle, Benichou, Serge, Basmaciogullari, Stéphane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2010
• Subjects: Animals; Bystander Effect - immunology; Gene Products, nef - metabolism; HIV; HIV-1 - immunology; HIV-1 - metabolism; HIV-1 - pathogenicity; HIV-2 - immunology; HIV-2 - metabolism; HIV-2 - pathogenicity; Humans; Immunologic Surveillance; Nef; Pathogenesis; Signaling; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - immunology; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - metabolism; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - pathogenicity; SIV; Traffic; SIV; Signaling; HIV; Pathogenesis; Nef; Traffic
• ISSN: 0098-2997; 1872-9452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2010.05.003

The genomes of all retroviruses encode the Gag Pol and Env structural proteins. Human and simian lentiviruses have acquired non-structural proteins among which Nef plays a major role in the evolution of viral infection towards an immunodeficiency syndrome. Indeed, in the absence of a functional nef gene, primate lentiviruses are far less pathogenic than their wild type counterparts. The multiple protein–protein interactions in which Nef is involved all contribute to explain the role played by Nef in HIV- and SIV-associated disease progression. This review summarizes common and distinct features among Nef proteins and how they contribute to increasing HIV and SIV fitness towards their respective hosts.