Abstract

AIDS: A question from the Internet on HIV mutation rate is answered by John Coffin, PhD. The mutation rate has been estimated to be 3 times 10 to the minus fifth per base per genome per replication cycle. All RNA viruses mutate similarly, so this is not peculiar to HIV. The difference is that HIV is able to persist for many years without being defeated by the immune system. The mutation aspect in viral persistence and drug resistance is discussed briefly.