INTRODUCTION

The life or death of the host cell determines the fate of the virus. Cell lysis and target cell destruction too early would terminate progeny virion production, whereas appropriate cell death enhances viral dissemination. A growing body of literature indicates that Vpr impinges on the cell cycle and the general machinery that regulates programmed cell death, but exactly how this occurs is still largely a matter of intense investigation and debate. This chapter will highlight the key roles of Vpr in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 biology, its host interactions, and the mechanisms of Vpr- induced cell death. Finally, some discussion will be given on strategies that may be used to neutralize the actions of Vpr.