Discovery Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Research Articles

Human immunodeficiency virus knowledge and attitudes among hospital-based healthcare professionals in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.

Since the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the Chinese mainland in 1985, the virus has spread to all provinces and autonomous regions. Although much research emphasis has been placed on studying behaviors and transmission knowledge among high-risk populations, especially drug abusers and commercial sex workers, little has been done to measure understanding within other risk groups. The objective of this study was to investigate HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) knowledge and attitudes among hospital-based healthcare professionals in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. Data were gathered through a questionnaire completed by a convenience sample of individuals from three diverse hospitals. Insufficient knowledge of the disease and its transmission resulted in more than 90% of the respondents expressing apprehension about contracting the virus and nearly 24% expressing reservations about caring for infected patients. Uncorrected, such attitudes and knowledge deficiencies have the potential to impact negatively on the quality of care, patient-practitioner safety, and proper postexposure prophylaxis.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of vaccine-induced protection against retroviral infections.

More than 15 years after the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), researchers are still struggling to design a protective AIDS vaccine. A remaining problem is a lack of basic knowledge about the immunological requirements for protection against retroviruses. Infection of macaque monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus is still the best model for HIV vaccine research. However, in this model it remains difficult to determine protective immunological mechanisms because of limited numbers of experimental animals and their genetic heterogeneity. Thus, fundamental concepts in retroviral immunology have to be defined in other ways such as mouse models. This minireview summarizes new findings on cellular and molecular mechanisms in protection of mice against Friend murine retrovirus infection. It has been shown that complex immune responses, including B and T cell responses, are required for efficient protection in this model. Multiple viral antigens are necessary to elicit such broad immune reactivity. Efficacious vaccines must protect not only against acute disease, but also against the establishment of persistent infections or the host is at serious risk of virus reactivation. The minireview closes with a discussion on the relevance of findings from the mouse model on the design of a protective vaccine against HIV.

Retroviruses and autoimmunity.

The investigation of human retroviruses has shown dramatic progress since the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These studies have also contributed to the exploration of the role of retroviruses, including endogenous retroviruses, in the induction of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This review describes the potential role of retroviruses in autoimmunity, based on recent findings including our own results.

Present Status and Future Prospects for HIV Therapies

Since the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1983, significant progress has been made toward the discovery, development, and licensing of anti-HIV drugs. In vitro screens against whole virus are now being complemented by screens against specific viral targets, resulting in the development of clinical candidates acting at several critical stages of the viral life cycle. Despite these advances, clinical therapy remains largely palliative. In addition, it has recently been recognized that HIV resistance to most drugs may pose even greater obstacles. Moreover, emerging data on immunopathogenesis raise the possibility that even if virus was eliminated from an infected individual, the patient's immune system might not be capable of restoration to normal function. In the face of such obstacles, deeper insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of disease, aggressive exploitation of those mechanisms for therapeutic gain, and continued commitment of both public and private sectors to support and collaborate in this research are needed.

Mania in AIDS: Clinical Significance and Theoretical Considerations

Cases of mania associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are reviewed in an attempt to elucidate patterns that may be helpful in guiding treatment, determining prognosis, and understanding pathophysiology. Fourteen well-described cases in the English language literature were critically reviewed. Data was collected regarding chronological appearance of signs and symptoms, specific psychiatric symptoms, associated neurologic and cognitive function, objective testing of brain structure and function, and outcome. When mania or hypomania occur in the setting of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, it frequently occurs once and does not recur. AIDS-associated manic states are adequately responsive to available antimanic agents, however, AIDS patients may be more prone to deleterious side effects. Although mania or hypomania may be the presenting complaints that lead to the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive status, mania tends to occur in people exhibiting signs of immunodeficiency as is exemplified, in the sample, by death occurring within six months of the psychiatric presentation in nearly a quarter of the patients. It is hypothesized that AIDS-related mania and agitated psychosis may be related to increased intracellular free calcium.

Targeted therapy of human immunodeficiency virus‐related disease

Since the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a pathogenic retrovirus linked to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a number of potentially useful strategies for antiretroviral therapy of AIDS and its related diseases have emerged. One such strategy involves use of the broad family of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides, to which 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT) belongs. AZT has been shown to reduce the replication of HIV in vivo and to confer significant clinical benefits in patients in both early and advanced stages of infection. Other members of the family, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC), 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI), and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (d4T), have also been reported to be active against HIV in short-term clinical trials. The armamentarium of antiretroviral agents is rapidly growing. Various nonnucleoside agents have recently been identified to be active against HIV in vitro. HIV-1 protease inhibitors are notable as possible new therapies for HIV-1-related diseases. However, we have faced several new challenges in the antiretroviral therapy in AIDS. These include long-term drug-related toxicities; emergence of drug-resistant HIV variants; and development of various cancers, particularly as effective therapies prolong survival. Progress in understanding structure-activity relations and clinical effectiveness will continue with dideoxynucleoside analogs. However, it seems certain that a variety of nonnucleoside analogs affecting multiple steps in viral replication will become available before long, and combination therapies using multiple antiretroviral drugs will be available. Such therapies will exert major effects against the moribidity and mortality caused by HIV.

Seroconversion, staging and survival. Natural history of HIV infection

With the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), researchers identified the etiologic agent for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although neither a cure nor a vaccine exists for this fatal disease, considerable information is now available on the progression from HIV infection through AIDS. Understanding the natural history of this progression can facilitate early detection and intervention. Although the epidemic continues to claim lives at an accelerating rate, the timely administration of prophylactic and therapeutic modalities can significantly prolong survival time for many patients. As more effective and less toxic treatments are developed, it will become increasingly crucial for practitioners to accurately diagnose and stage HIV-infected patients.

Practical diagnostic testing for human immunodeficiency virus.

Since the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in 1983, there has been a proliferation of diagnostic tests. These assays can be used to detect the presence of HIV antibody, HIV antigen, HIV ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids, and HIV reverse transcriptase. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, Western blot, radioimmunoprecipitation assays, indirect immunofluorescence assays, reverse transcriptase assays, and several molecular hybridization techniques are currently available. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent, Western blot, and indirect immunofluorescence assays for HIV antibody are very sensitive, specific, and adaptable to most laboratories. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for HIV antigen is also readily adaptable to most laboratories and will be commercially available soon. While the other assays are more tedious, they are valuable confirmatory tests and are suitable for reference laboratories. The biohazards of performing HIV testing can be minimized with proper biosafety measures.