A

• AIDS - A severe immunological disorder caused by the retrovirus HIV, resulting in a defect in cell-mediated immune response. It is transmitted primarily by exposure to contaminated body fluids, especially blood and semen.
  
  
• Allele - One member of a pair or series of genes that occupy a specific position on a specific chromosome.
  
  
• Antibodies - A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus, such as a bacterium, virus, parasite, or transplanted organ, and that neutralizes the antigen by binding specifically to it; an immunoglobulin.
  
  
• Antigen - A substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the production of an antibody. Antigens include toxins, bacteria, foreign blood cells, and the cells of transplanted organs.

B

C

• CCR5 – one of two coreceptors for binding HIV to the human cell. Also known as CC CKR5.
  
  
• CD4 –
  1. A glycoprotein predominantly found on the surface of helper T cells. In humans, it is a receptor for HIV, enabling the virus to gain entry into its host.
  2. A cell bearing the CD4 surface receptor.
  
  
• cDNA – complementary DNA - DNA that is synthesized from a messenger RNA template. Viral reverse transcriptase can be used to synthesize DNA that is complementary to RNA (for example an isolated mRNA).
  
  
• Chemokine - Any of various cytokines produced in acute and chronic inflammationthat mobilize and activate white blood 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.

D

E

• Env – HIV-1 envelope protein - Retroviral gene encoding viral envelope glycoproteins.

F

G

• Glycoprotein - Any of a group of conjugated proteins that contain a carbohydrate as the nonprotein component.

H

• Heterozygous - Having different alleles at one or more corresponding chromosomal loci.
  
  
• HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus - A retrovirus that causes AIDS by infecting helper T cells of the immune system.
  
  
• HIV-1 – The most common serotype, is distributed worldwide
  
  
• HIV-2 – primarily confined to West Africa.
  
  
• Homozygous - having identical alleles at corresponding chromosomal loci

I

• In Vitro - In an artificial environment outside the living organism
  
  
• In Vivo - Within a living organism

J

K

L

• Lymphocyte - Any of the nearly colorless cells found in the blood, lymph, and lymphoid tissues, constituting approximately 25 percent of white blood cells and including B cells, which function in humoral immunity, and T cells, which function in cellular immunity.
  
  
• Lympho-Tropic HIV – binds to CXCR4 + CD4

M

• M-tropic = Macrophage-tropic– HIV-1 isolates that preferentially infect CD4+ Macrophage cells. Activity of fusin much less pronounced in M-tropic Isolates of HIV-1. Binds to CCR5 coreceptor + CD4.

N

O

P

• Phenotypic - The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.

Q

R

• Retrovirus - any of a group of viruses that contain two single-strand linear RNA molecules per virion and reverse transcriptase (RNA to DNA)

S

• Serotype - A group of closely related microorganisms distinguished by a characteristic set of antigens
  
  
• Simian - Relating to, characteristic of, or resembling an ape or a monkey.

T

• T Cell - lymphocytes that have the ability to recognize specific peptide antigens through the receptors on their cell surface. Also called T lymphocyte.
  
  
• T-tropic = T-cell line-tropic – HIV-1 isolates that preferentially infect cell lines having properties of CD4+ T cells.

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

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