Recent Progress in HIV Research

HIV is a virus that severely affects the immune system resulting in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The treatment of HIV involves combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). This therapy suppresses HIV-1 replication, blocks transmission, and improves immune responses. cART is a lifelong treatment, and does not eliminate the virus while also having side effects. The focus in the treatment of HIV is the reactivation of HIV reservoirs for subsequent termination by viral cytopathic effects or host immunity. The most researched HIV reservoir is resting memory CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues. The antiretroviral therapies have expanded significantly in the recent times and comprise five categories of antiretrovirals, including nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) and entry inhibitors. This book unfolds the innovative aspects of HIV research which will be crucial for the progress of this field in the future. For someone with an interest and eye for detail, this book covers the most significant topics on HIV-AIDS and its treatment.