AIDS: Science at a Crossroads

CONTENTS
1. THE CHANGING PICTURE 2
1995: T"ime to go back to basics
Funding under threat
Brief history of an epidemic
2. HIV: A COMPLEX VIRUS 3
What is HIV?
How does the virus spread?
The 'latent' phase is anything but
Resisting illness and infection
3. HIV'S GLOBAL SPREAD 5
Who is affected
STDs: a major factor of risk
4. DESPERATELY SEEKING ANSWERS: HIV'S MYTHS AND MYSTERIES 6
Where did HIV come from (and where is it going)?
Polio vaccine exonerated
Is AIDS a myth?
Are HIV tests reliable?
5. VACCINES: WHERE ARE WE NOW? 10
HIV - a challenge to vaccine designers
Who will foot the bill?
How researchers are tackling the issue
Vaccine trials: not for the faint-hearted
6. DRUG TREATMENTS: WHAT'S IN THE CUPBOARD? 13
Orthodox therapies
Alternative therapies
The cost of AIDS treatments