Cross-references to this Web Site: HIV Treatment Strategies HIV abnormalities and symptoms

Web Sites: NIAID Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Home Page UN-AIDS HIV molecular immunology database

Companies which are involved with HIV: Celera Diagnostics  Calimmune  Sangamo BioSciences 

In 1983, the laboratory of Luc Montagnier at the Pasteur Institute isolated a retrovirus and called it lymphadenopathy-associated virus. Subsequently the laboratory of Robert Gallo at the National Cancer Institute identified a retrovirus and called it HTLV-II. Subsequently it was recognized that these isolated viruses were all of which was latter named human immunodeficiency virus or “HIV” in 1986.

There are 2 known strains of HIV. The virus infects human, chimpanzees and the pigtailed macaque. But it causes immune suppression only in human and the pigtailed macaque.

Among viruses, HIV is known as a retrovirus. Morphological wide, HIV appears like a corn kernel under the microscope.