Animal Lentiviruses: Models for Human Immunodeficiency Viruses and Nutrition

The purpose of this work is to elucidate useful relationships between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related lentiviruses in nonhuman species and HIV. In particular, this study examined relationships between simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), and HIV. The need to investigate these lentiviruses is due to the current global prevalence of HIV and demand for better therapeutic strategies and understanding of available models for this disease. To clarify common characteristics between these viruses, this chapter explores areas such as nutritional effects, morphology, genomic organization and expression, modes of transmission, infectious cycles, and clinical and pathological characteristics of these lentiviruses. This study found that several HIV-related lentiviruses have proven to be useful models for studying HIV pathology as well as disease treatments and possible preventative strategies. Further research of these lentiviruses could provide more beneficial correlations with HIV.