The role of HIV-1 polymorphism in the pathogenesis of the disease

High genetic variability is one of the defining HIV-1 properties. It contributes to the appearance of drug resistance and to the formation of various HIV variants. In the world, the different variants of HIV-1 are distributed unevenly. In Russia there are circulating unique virus variants which are characteristic for our country and some countries of the former USSR and which are difference from HIV-1 variants circulating in other countries of the world. For many years, the studies aimed on the analysis of the influence of various HIV-1 variants on pathogenesis have been conducted. Within the framework of these studies, the polymorphism mutations in different subtypes and recombinant forms have been detected. Currently the main objects of antiretroviral therapy are HIV-1 structural proteins, mainly enzyme proteins, thus polymorphic mutations in which could affect the degree of virus sensitivity to antiretroviral therapy. Non-structural HIV-1 proteins are involved in virus replication and virus protection from the host immune system, enter the bloodstream and tissues, causing the development of inflammation. The polymorphic mutations in non-structural proteins could affect the degree of HIV infection progression and the development of concomitant somatic diseases. Today, nonstructural proteins are considered as objects for the creation of therapeutic agents, thus the identification of polymorphic mutations in nonstructural proteins in different HIV-1 variants is a basis for such developments. Thus, the study of polymorphism of both structural and non-structural HIV-1 proteins is a promising area of research in the future.