By Richard Jefferys The biggest obstacle to understanding how HIV causes immune damage is the complexity of the human immune system, a vast collection of different cells and tissues that typically work together in concert to protect against disease. HIV…
As this issue went to press, a paper appeared from Daniel Douek and colleagues reporting data which, the authors argue, further supports the model of HIV pathogenesis outlined in their Nature Immunology review. Douek's group had previously speculated that one…
By Rob Camp Tibotec's clinical development program for the protease inhibitor darunavir (Prezista, TMC114) delivered the drug to market several months ahead of schedule. But even as it began shipping to pharmacies around the country one nagging uncertainty remained: Would…
Leadership Lacking in Move From 3x5 to Universal Access By Mark Harrington The past year saw a number of post mortems about the World Health Organization's "3x5" initiative to support countries in treating at least 50% of their HIV-infected populations…
By Richard Jefferys The Strategies for the Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (SMART) trial was designed to investigate whether antiretroviral therapy could be used on an as-needed basis rather than continuously. The protocol involved interrupting therapy when the CD4 count was…
TB, HIV and Viral Hepatitis By Tracy Swan Disturbing reports of overlapping TB, HIV, and viral hepatitis epidemics emerged at the 2005 International AIDS Society Conference. In the newly independent states of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, HIV incidence continues…
A Crisis for People Living With HIV/AIDS Worldwide By Javid Syed Globally, TB is the most common infection and a leading cause of death among people living with HIV. Despite being curable, TB accounts for two million deaths each year…
By Richard Jefferys Since the late 1980s researchers have recognized that HIV isolates (viruses sampled from infected individuals) can be divided into one of two categories based on their ability to replicate in particular cells in the laboratory. Originally, a…
Squandering Public Goodwill and Scarce Research Funds to Boot -- But to What End? By Richard Jefferys Altruism Betrayed On September 23, 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee held a hearing to…