Abstract

Understanding the evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is crucial for reconstructing its origin, deciphering its interaction with the immune system and developing effective control strategies. Although it is clear that HIV-1 and HIV-2 originated in African primates, dating their transmission to humans is problematic, especially because of frequent recombination. Our ability to predict the spread of drug-resistance and immune-escape mutations depends on understanding how HIV evolution differs within and among hosts and on the role played by positive selection. For this purpose, extensive sampling of HIV genetic diversity is required, and is essential for informing the design of HIV vaccines.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
2. Departamento de Bioquímica, Genética e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo 36200, Spain.
3. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA.

Correspondence to: Edward C. Holmes¹ Email: edward.holmes@zoo.ox.ac.uk

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