Cure of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome: promising future prospects at horizon

Abstract

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus and characterized by profound immunosuppression that leads to opportunistic infections, secondary neoplasms, and neurologic complications. AIDS is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Current therapeutic options are directed only toward management of AIDS, but not toward its prevention or cure. In addition, it also possesses numerous problems like drug resistance, drug toxicity, drug interactions, non-adherence to therapy, lifelong and expensive treatment, etc. Recent years in drug development have shown promising prospects for prevention/ treatment/cure of AIDS like histone deacetylase inhibitors, Vpu ion channel inhibitors, viral decay acceleration, maturation inhibitors, tat antagonists, gene/stem cell therapy, and antiretroviral vaccines.