How does HIV induce AIDS? The virus protein hypothesis

The genome, the structural and regulatory proteins of HIV-1, as well as the clinical course of the disease it induces are well studied. Despite this k nowledge, it is still unknown how the virus induces AIDS. The disease is ch aracterized by opportunistic infections based on a generalized and nonspeci fic immunosuppression. I present evidence indicating that the immunosuppres sive domain of gp41 of HIV may be causually involved in the induction and p rogression of AIDS.