Coreceptor usage and biological phenotypes of HIV-1 isolates.

The discovery of chemokine receptors as HIV-1 entry molecules or "coreceptors" has lead to a greater understanding of how HIV-1 infects human cells. This has provided insight into the biological properties of HIV-1 isolates and unravelled the meaning of the syncytium-inducing and non-syncytium-inducing phenotypes. Understanding how HIV-1 exploits these coreceptors has given way to novel approaches to controlling HIV. As a result a new class of drugs has emerged that are being tested to prevent virus infection and to act as an alternative, or adjunct, to existing anti-retroviral drugs for HIV-infected individuals.