AIDS research turned upside down

Article Abstract:

Evidence that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be necessary but not sufficient to cause AIDS is briefly reviewed. One line of research in this regard has shown that mice injected with T cells (a type of white blood cell) from another mouse strain manufacture antibodies against two proteins associated with HIV. This may be due to the similarity of one of these proteins (gp120) to proteins of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) that can cause T cells to kill each other. A second relevant line of research has shown that a control group of monkeys injected with uninfected T cells as part of an experiment involving simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) were protected against infection with SIV. The monkeys that were protected had very high levels of antibodies against certain T cells. Thus, the presence of SIV was not necessary for the production of antibodies normally considered diagnostic for vulnerability to infection. Such experiments are clearly hampered by the difficulty of using monkeys in research, a limitation that has seriously impeded progress against AIDS. An understanding of AIDS as an autoimmune disease may explain some of its features, such as the long interval between infection by HIV and the development of symptoms, and the scarcity of infected T cells in infected people. A simplified version of the theory behind some of the recent research holds that T cells normally are ''trained'' not to attack cells labeled with an animal's own MHC molecules. When foreign T cells enter the body, however, antibodies are made against antigens on these cells and T cells mobilize to destroy them. If, however, HIV is injected at the same time as these foreign T cells, the immune system reacts against viral proteins. The similarity between gp120 and normal class II MHC marker proteins thus causes the proliferation of two types of T cell, each bent on destroying the other. This a clear oversimplification of reality and it is known that gp120 and MHC class II molecules bind to different receptors on the T cell surface; however, it is also known that mice used as models for autoimmune disease studies make antibodies that react strongly with gp120. Such research results are likely to affect current AIDS research efforts dramatically. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, HIV (Viruses), HIV

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Media make AIDS wishes come true

Article Abstract:

Britain's newspapers including the 'Sunday Times' are shamefully supporting Peter Duesberg's view that the HIV virus does not cause AIDS and that the disease does not threaten heterosexuals. Duesberg believes that drug abuse causes AIDS and that heterosexual intercourse does not spread it. The 'Sunday Times' and other papers have ignored the lack of evidence for Duesberg's views, most recently with regard to an AIDS outbreak in Birmingham, England which the newspapers said blamed on anal intercourse. Heterosexual AIDS transmitted vaginally is a reality the newspapers should be willing to face.

Health aspects, Evaluation, Periodicals, Birmingham, England, Media coverage, AIDS (Disease) in mass media, The Sunday Times (London)(Newspaper)

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Ebullient science adviser steps down

Article Abstract:

UK's Chief Scientific Adviser William Stewart will retire after five years of service. The exuberant 60-year-old Scot is partially credited for the transfer of responsibility over the country's research councils from the Dept. of Education and Science to the Cabinet Office. Stewart is a proponent of the foresight concept, in which research priority strategy formulation should evolve from research, industry and government consultation.

Officials and employees, Appointments, resignations and dismissals, Stewart, William

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