How does HIV induce AIDS? The virus protein hypothesis.

Abstract

The genome, the structural and regulatory proteins of HIV-1, as well as the clinical course of the disease it induces are well studied. Despite this knowledge, it is still unknown how the virus induces AIDS. The disease is characterized by opportunistic infections based on a generalized and nonspecific immunosuppression. I present evidence indicating that the immunosuppressive domain of gp41 of HIV may be causually involved in the induction and progression of AIDS.