COVID-19 and HIV infection co-pandemics and their impact: a review of the literature

Table 1 The comparison between SARS-CoV 2 and HIV characteristics

	SAR-CoV 2	HIV
Classification of virus	β coronaviruses	Lentiviruses
Virus size in diameter	60-140 nm	100 nm
Receptor binding domain	Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor	CD4 T cell receptor and co-receptor CCR5, CXCR4
High expression of the receptor in human organ	lung, heart, ileum, kidney and bladder	Various lymphoid tissues
Primary affected cells	T cell lymphocytes	T cell lymphocytes
Immune activation	Acute cytokine storm	Chronic immune activation (with slow progressive immunodeficiency)
Transmission	Droplet, contact, airborne	Sexual transmission is the most common route, blood
Prevention	Mask, Social distancing	Condom use, Pre-exposure prophaylaxis (PrEP), and treatment as prevention (TasP)
Vaccine	As of 17 March 2021, 6 vaccines are authorized for emergency use based on preliminary evidence that they are safe and effective and 7 vaccines are approved for full use in few countries^*	Unlikely up-to-now