HIV research

In Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a group of clinicians described five previously healthy men who had contracted pneumonia caused by an opportunistic pathogen normally associated with severe immunosuppression. The findings would soon be recognized as the first report of AIDS in humans. Read more

• Shimona Starling

Three separate teams—in Paris, in Bethesda, Maryland, and in California—isolate retroviruses from the T cells of patients with AIDS or pre-AIDS. The retroviruses were cytopathic to T cells and eventually named HIV-1, the causative agent of AIDS. Read more

• Sonja Schmid

CD4 is a cell-surface co-receptor for the T cell receptor and contributes to T cell activation. In a twist of fate, CD4 is also the receptor for HIV-1, leading to infection and eventual depletion of CD4⁺ T cells, thereby disabling the T cell response to infection. Read more

• Tanya Bondar

Epidemiological research shows that AIDS is much more geographically widespread than originally thought, and homosexual, heterosexual and mother-to-child transmission routes contribute to pandemic spread. Read more

• Ursula Hofer

Three groups report the full nucleotide sequence of HIV-1, revealing the complexity of the viral genome and leading to insights into viral gene regulation. Read more

• Andrea Du Toit

Pathogenic and non-pathogenic HIV-1-related viruses are isolated from nonhuman primate species, helping to establish monkeys as a pivotal animal model for HIV research. Read more

• Alison Farrell

HIV-1 and HIV-2 have distinct genetic origins. While HIV-2 is closely related to a simian immunodeficiency virus endemic to sooty mangabeys (SIV_smm), HIV-1 is thought to have been transmitted to humans from SIV_cpz-infected chimpanzees. Read more

• Zoltan Fehervari

Insights from the structures of HIV-1 proteins, including the protease and reverse transcriptase, have aided development of antiretroviral drugs, while more recent studies of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein are informing vaccine design. Read more

• Clare Thomas

A study showing that gp120 envelope glycoprotein protects chimpanzees from HIV-1 infection paves the way for development of HIV-1 Env-targeted vaccines and antibodies. Read more

• João Duarte

Chronic immune activation, rather than chronic infection per se, is associated with pathogenic HIV infection and progression to AIDS. Read more

• Yvonne Bordon

HIV-1 replicates to high levels during acute infection, with virus levels dropping dramatically during clinical latency. Researchers discover that the virus nevertheless continues to replicate during this chronic phase, highlighting the need for continuous treatment. Read more

• Lucy Bird

CD8⁺ T cells mediate the drop in virus levels in blood after the acute phase of HIV or SIV infection, which can result in viral escape from this immune pressure. Read more

• Alison Farrell

Two studies show that the high level of HIV-1 replication drives CD4⁺ T cell death and regeneration by homeostatic mechanisms. Disease progression is associated with exhaustion of the ability of CD4⁺ T cells to self-renew. Read more

• Jessica McHugh

The development of HIV-1 protease inhibitors, which block the maturation of viral proteins, proved critical to the successful development of efficacious combination antiretroviral therapy. Read more

• Megan Cully

Multiple groups converge on the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 as co-receptors for HIV-1 that also determine cell tropism of the virus. Read more

• Kirsty Minton

HIV-1 integrates into the CD4⁺ T cell genome, where it persists in a latent form, unperturbed by antiretroviral therapy. Replication-competent virus in the latent reservoir is the central obstacle to eradicating HIV. Read more

• Clare Thomas

Cellular factors that restrict HIV replication and transmission are uncovered, along with the mechanisms by which the virus counteracts the cell’s intrinsic defense. Read more

• Ashley York

Timothy Brown—the Berlin patient—is the only person known to have been functionally cured of HIV-1, following an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant from a donor with a homozygous mutation in the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 (CCR5 delta32). Read more

• Javier Martinez-Vesga

Discoveries of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that inhibit a wide range of HIV-1 viruses open the door to clinical application of bNAbs, as well as efforts to elicit these antibodies by vaccines. Read more

• Alex Flemming

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a crucial tool for both treatment of HIV and prevention of infection. By reducing virus levels in infected individuals, or when used as pre-exposure prophylaxis in HIV-negative individuals, ART can interrupt transmission of HIV. Read more

• Gavin Mason

Test and treat: initiating antiretroviral therapy early confers superior clinical outcomes compared with waiting until CD4⁺ T cells decline and disease has progressed. Read more

• Louise Stone