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This is a vaccine-related item, relative to the administration of Hepititis B vaccines and the organism contained therein.
Title
Comparative biology and pathogenesis of AIDS and hepatitis B viruses: related but different.
AuthorHilleman MR
AddressMerck Institute for Therapeutic Research, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania
19486.
Source
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses,
10:
11, 1994 Nov,
1409-19
AbstractAIDS (HIV) and hepatitis B viruses are remarkably similar in their sharing of reverse transcription,
in their ancestral origins and common genetic elements, and in their modes of transmission. Both are
hypermutable and exist as quasispecies due primarily to errors in reverse transcription, though there
is severe restriction in the replicative competence of most hepatitis B mutants. They differ in the
lack of an integrase in hepatitis B virus and in their pathogenesis in the infected host. HIV survives
mainly by antigenic variability, immune evasion, and impairment of immune function though viral regulatory
control elements seek to restrict fatal damage to the host. Hepatitis B virus survives primarily by mutation
of e antigen/core genes that directly obviates cytotoxic T cell destruction of infected liver
cells, or indirectly limits destruction of infected cells through induction of anergy in the cytotoxic
T cell response. Most persons infected with hepatitis B virus recover completely while recovery from
HIV infection is rare if ever. Hepatitis B is highly preventable by vaccine while HIV vaccine is still
seeking a meaningful immunoprophylactic target. AIDS and hepatitis B represent an extreme example,
among the viruses of man, in their close similarities but distinct differences. In depth details and
perspectives are presented in this review.