Trends Immunol. 2025 Sep 9:S1471-4906(25)00202-9. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2025.08.004. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Despite an effective combination of antiretroviral therapy, HIV persists as a lifelong infection and global health threat. The human host equips restriction factors and interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes that target every step of the viral life cycle. However, HIV-1 has evolved a coordinated immune evasion strategy using a limited set of accessory proteins with distinct antagonistic functions. This functional division of labor allows HIV-1 to disable key immune pathways and ensure persistence. Here, we explore the molecular interplay between host defenses and HIV-1, organizing antiviral factors by viral life cycle stage. We further reframe viral immune evasion as a strategic division of labor among accessory proteins each adapted to target specific host defenses, offering insights for next-generation therapies.
PMID:40930905 | DOI:10.1016/j.it.2025.08.004