During the last 5 years, major advances have been made in our understanding of the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and in the development of new potent antiviral agents. With regard to HIV pathogenesis, several recent observations have not only changed our perspectives of HIV disease, but have been critical for the design of therapeutic strategies.

During the early years of the AIDS epidemic, thousands of Americans became infected with HIV through the nation's blood supply. Because little reliable information existed at the time AIDS first began showing up in hemophiliacs and in others who had received transfusions, experts disagreed about whether blood and blood products could transmit the disease. During this period of great uncertainty, decision-making regarding the blood supply became increasingly difficult and fraught with risk. This volume provides a balanced inquiry into the blood safety controversy, which involves private sexual practices, personal tragedy for the victims of HIV/AIDS, and public confidence in America's blood services system. The book focuses on critical decisions as information about the danger to the blood supply emerged. The committee draws conclusions about what was doneâ€"and recommends what should be done to produce better outcomes in the face of future threats to blood safety. The committee frames its analysis around four critical area: Product treatmentâ€"Could effective methods for inactivating HIV in blood have been introduced sooner? Donor screening and referralâ€"including a review of screening to exlude high-risk individuals. Regulations and recall of contaminated bloodâ€"analyzing decisions by federal agencies and the private sector. Risk communicationâ€"examining whether infections could have been averted by better communication of the risks.

The past few years have witnessed an explosive increase in our collective knowledge of the biology of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Researchers have acquired new understanding of the virus's biochemistry, molecular biology, pathogenesis, genetics, and immunobiology. Resulting therapeutic advances have significantly prolonged the lives of thousands. Yet, the need to develop better therapies is ever more acute and--given the virus's continued spread through the human population--the need for an effective vaccine is urgent. These goals can be accomplished only through the experienced synthesis of information from the many disciplines participating in HIV research and through the insights of new investigators. This volume is designed to lower the barriers imposed on investigators by the sheer volume of available information--information that often can be found only in far-flung and specialized journals. It provides, in a single resource, an in-depth overview of the diverse areas that constitute HIV research. The result is a broad introduction for students and researchers new to the field as well as an integrated overview for researchers specialized in particular areas of HIV investigation. The volume will also benefit those seeking technical understanding of the virus's biology, including physicians treating HIV-infected patients. Each chapter is a comprehensive presentation of one area of current AIDS research--including work on the virus life cycle, epidemiology, genetics, protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors, receptor and co-receptor interactions, therapeutic targets, clinical treatment, immunobiology, and vaccines--written by a leading researcher in that area. The contributors are Jon P. Anderson, Jan Balzarini, Elana Cherry, Thomas J. Coates, Chris Collins, Jon H. Condra, Mark B. Feinberg, Richard B. Gaynor, Matthias Götte, Daria J. Hazuda, Spyros Kalams, Nathaniel R. Landau, Gerald H. Learn, Norman L. Letvin, James I. Mullins, Willscott E. Naugler, David Nickle, Matthew Rain, Allen G. Rodrigo, Daniel Shriner, Shalom Spira, Mario Stevenson, Todd Summers, Catherine Ulich, Joseph P. Vacca, Mark A. Wainberg, Bruce D. Walker, and Yang Wang.

This volume summarizes recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of HIV-1 latency, in characterizing residual viral reservoirs, and in developing targeted interventions to reduce HIV-1 persistence during antiretroviral therapy. Specific chapters address the molecular mechanisms that govern and regulate HIV-1 transcription and latency; assays and technical approaches to quantify viral reservoirs in humans and animal models; the complex interchange between viral reservoirs and the host immune system; computational strategies to model viral reservoir dynamics; and the development of therapeutic approaches that target viral reservoir cells. With contributions from an interdisciplinary group of investigators that cover a broad spectrum of subjects, from molecular virology to proof-of-principle clinical trials, this book is a valuable resource for basic scientists, translational investigators, infectious-disease physicians, individuals living with HIV/AIDS and the general public.

The basic biology of the HIV virus provides a model for a more general understanding of retroviruses, and the worldwide epidemic of AIDS makes research into the disease process and potential therapies among the most critical in biomedical science. This book explores work on the molecular biology of HIV, host-virus interactions, host immune responses, HIV transmission, and more.

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is characterized by the destruction of the host immune system as also reflected by a progressive loss of CD4-positive T-cells. This finally results in the host's incapacity to deal with opportunistic infections and the immune surveillance of tumors, a clinical status known as the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The book AIDS Pathogenesis provides the reader with a complete overview of the clinical course of HIV-1 infection. It describes the clinical aspects of primary infection, the different clinical outcomes of HIV-1 infection, and strategies for anti-viral treatment. In addition, more fundamental aspects of HIV-1 infection are reviewed. These include the biology of the virus and the novel insights in AIDS pathogenesis. Not only is the significance of an HIV-specific cellular and humoral immune response discussed, but also the possible incapacity of the adult human host to deal with T-cell destruction. Finally, the book discusses the currently used laboratory markers that allow for monitoring of the clinical course of infection.

The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.