Primate Project Development Background
Primate lentiviruses, including Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) in humans and Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses (SIV) in non-human primates, are significant for their impact on immune health and their intricate evolutionary history. HIV-1, responsible for the global AIDS pandemic, is thought to have originated from cross-species transmission involving chimpanzees, while SIV in natural primate hosts like sooty mangabeys and African green monkeys often remains non-pathogenic. However, when SIV infects non-natural hosts like rhesus macaques, it can lead to simian AIDS, providing a critical model for studying HIV progression and therapeutic approaches.
The primate extension of Lentivirus-GLUE is designed to support comparative genomic research on these viruses, enabling detailed analysis of genetic variation, genome structure, and evolutionary relationships across human and non-human primate hosts. By facilitating direct comparisons across the whole lentivirus genus, this extension aids in exploring how these viruses adapt to different hosts and evade immune responses. Comparative genomic research is essential for uncovering the origins of HIV, understanding mechanisms of immune escape, and informing the development of effective treatments and vaccines to address these persistent global health challenges.
