Selection of escape mutants from immune recognition during HIV infection

We present computer simulations of the HIV infection based on a sophisticated cellular automata model of the immune response. The infection progresses following the well known three-phases dynamics observed in patients, that is, acute, silent and acquired immunodeficiency. Antigenic shift and selection of escape viral mutants with low transcription rate explain the long-term course of the asymptomatic phase, while the immunodeficiency status appears to be the consequence of a drastic reduction in T helper cell repertoire