Ljubljana/glossary

Glossary

AIDS - Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in humans. The late stage of the condition leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors.

Apoptosis - is a form of programmed cell death in multicellular organisms. It is one of the main types of programmed cell death and involves an orchestrated series of biochemical events leading to a characteristic cell morphology and death.

Capsid - is the protective shell of protein that surrounds the genetic material of a virus.

CCR5 - short for chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5. CCR5 is predominantly expressed on T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells and microglia. HIV uses CCR5 or another protein, CXCR4, as a co-receptor to enter its target cells. CCR5 is likely the most physiologically important coreceptor during natural infection.

CD4 - CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of T helper cells, regulatory T cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Like many cell surface receptors/markers, CD4 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. CD4 is also a primary receptor used by HIV-1 to gain entry into host T cells.

CxCR4 - also called fusin, this is one of two co receptors for HIV binding to the human cell, it is embedded in the T Cell membrane. The other co receptor is CCR5.

Env - The envelope gene encodes the surface glycoprotein (SU) - transmembrane (TM) polyprotein. Env gene is located in the HIV genome.

Gag - The gag (group specific antigen) gene encodes the viral matrix (MA) capsid (CA) and nucleoproteins (NC). Gag gene is located in the HIV genome.

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