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A Physical Theory of the Competition that Allows HIV to Escape from the Immune System

Guanyu Wang·Michael W. Deem
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Abstract

Competition within the immune system may degrade immune control of viral infections. We formalize the evolution that occurs in both HIV-1 and the immune system quasispecies. Inclusion of competition in the immune system leads to a novel balance between the immune response and HIV-1, in which the eventual outcome is HIV-1 escape rather than control. The analytical model reproduces the three stages of HIV-1 infection. We propose a vaccine regimen that may be able to reduce competition between T cells, potentially eliminating the third stage of HIV-1.

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Guanyu Wang, Michael W. Deem. 2006-10-16. A Physical Theory of the Competition that Allows HIV to Escape from the Immune System. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.97.188106

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