Are Some People Protected Against HIV Infection?

This chapter briefly describes host genetics, genesis of the field, and many other concepts. Host genetic factors play an important role in resistance to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection shaping different steps in the viral cycle as well as in immune responses to HIV antigens. The most significant genetic correlates of protection belong to two families: chemokine receptors/ligands and human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). In addition, immune responses to viral antigens are strictly dependent on host immune response genes. HLA genes are the most prominent of such genes, because of their role in binding and presenting antigenic epitopes to T lymphocytes. Several publications describe associations of particular HLA alleles with different outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection.