Biopolymers and cell. Volume 20. № 3. 171-181.

N. V. Ivans'ka, T. Yu. Trokhimchuk

The problems of variability of the human immunodeficiency virus

Summary

This review deals with variability of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the epidemiological consequences of such variability. The level of the HIV variability is extremely high. For example, the mutation frequency determined for the HIV gene env is ten times higher comparing to the variability of the influenza virus which had been thought to be the most variable before investigations carried on the HIV variability. The information concerning the HIV variability problem is useful for studies on epidemiological control of the HIV-infection and the choice of anti-AIDS strategy; the data obtained are also necessary to construct therapeutic and preventive vaccines as well as reliable diagnostic test-systems.