The Role of the Host in Controlling HIV Progression

The mechanisms by which long-term nonprogressors(LTNP) are able to slow down HIV immunologicaldamage are not well understood. Multiple factors seemto determine the lack of progression in these individuals.New chip-based technologies have opened thepossibility for the simultaneous screening of a largenumber of variables, and to explore the impact of thecomplex interactions between viral and host factorsthat finally result in the control of HIV-induced immunodeficiencyin some individuals. Interestingly, dataobtained using these new tools seem to move the balancetowards host genetic factors rather than viralfeatures as key determinants of the LTNP phenotype.