The AIDS Epidemic

During 1984 several important developments advanced our understanding of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A retrovirus known as human T-cell leukemia (lymphotropic) virus type III (HTLV-III), 1 also called lymphadenopathy-associated virus, was identified as the probable cause of AIDS. 2 AIDS-associated retrovirus 3 is also probably the same agent. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to detect antibodies to HTLV-III, 4 thereby providing an indicator of whether or not a person has been exposed to the virus. Clinical researchers have identified various therapeutic agents that appear to inhibit viral replication in vitro. 5 , 6 Although the ultimate goal of all these research activities is . . .