Time: 15:30 Nov. 18 (Monday), 2019
Venue: Auditorium at Y Building
Prof. Frank Kirchhoff
Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Germany
Abstract：
HIV, the causative agent of AIDS, has a complex evolutionary history involving severalcross-species transmissions and recombination events as well as changes in therepertoire and function of its accessory genes. Understanding the factors and adaptations required for the spread of HIV in the human population provides key insights into innate defense mechanisms and prerequisites for the emergence of the AIDS pandemic.
Here, I will first briefly summarize some of our current knowledge on the function of antiviral restriction factors and their viral antagonists, i.e. the accessory viral factors Vpr, Vpx, Vpu and Nef. Next, I will discuss viral features and adaptations preceding the AIDS pandemic and present examples for novel antiviral factors modulating virus-dependency factors instead of targeting the virus directly. Finally, I will explain how Vpu helps HIV-1 to avoid immune control and why Vpu facilitated changes in Nef function that may have increased the virulence of HIV-1.
