The similarities and differences between SARS-CoV-2 and Human immunodeficiency virus

ABSTRACT

Both coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) are known as category B infectious diseases, which were caused respectively by SARS-CoV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV). Although HIV infection is not a risk factor for COVID-19, latest clinical studies have shown that HIV-positive COVID-19 patients experience longer disease course and are more likely to have severe COVID-19 compared with HIV-negative COVID-19 patients, especially those with low CD4+ T cells count or with no antiretroviral therapy(ART).In this review, we aim to compare the etiological and pathogenetic differences between COVID-19 and AIDS, and to elucidate the immunological and virologic characteristics of HIV-positive COVID-19 patients, which helps for a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infections.