Why doesn't everyone who's HIV-positive develop AIDS?

Fascinating. I wonder what (if any) evidence of HIV's past (pre-modern era) infection of humans can be deduced from this.

Or is it definitely established that HIV has never infected the human community before now?

There have been retrospective studies looking at that. The earliest known cases of HIV infection are mentioned here:

1. A plasma sample taken in 1959 from an adult male living in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2. HIV found in tissue samples from an American teenager who died in St. Louis in 1969.
3. HIV found in tissue samples from a Norwegian sailor who died around 1976.

Phylogenetic analyses put the introduction of the virus into the human population ~1930 (+/- about 15 years), and current research (such as that I mentioned here) are actively studying how, when, and where the virus jumped species.

Thanks, Tara. Clearly, what we can learn about the evolution of HIV is going to be crucial in treating it.

Tara, do you know how to find more information on the Kenya sex-worker study? I heard something about it years ago on the radio, but not enough to track it down in print. My recollection is that they had been infected but cleared the virus, which sounded fascinating. Is this the same study? Thanks!

> "Clearly, what we can learn about the evolution of HIV is going to be crucial in treating it."

Almost seems like that just-a-theory 'Darwinism' stuff goes hand in hand with this just-a-theory 'germ' stuff. Who knew?

and current research (such as that I mentioned here) are actively studying how, when, and where the virus jumped species

Yeah, they're stirring the ape's sh*t in their quest for the origins of HIV. But nobody ever actually saw a virus, so how can we be sure they're not looking for something like this.

I think we should tell them that this fancy image is not HIV but only an artist impression of nobody really knows what.

I think they might as well stop the feces business. Its' not where the HIV problem is. It's in the brains of people who stare to much at spreadsheets and in microscopes and in the brains of those who believe scientists know more and better.

jspreen,

Of course, that's a model of the HIV virus, but how in the world do you think they know its structure to even be able to make those kinds of recreations? Via microscopy.

You continue to make absurd statements such as "nobody ever actually saw a virus." Yet you, yourself, have the ability to go and do just this. Is there a university near you? Look up viral researchers, and see if they use EM. Ask if you can observe in their lab the next time they prep and analyze samples. Anyone can observe how this is done; I had interns in my own lab learn the process earlier this summer. Rather than denouncing science and scientists, why not learn about why they make the claims they do, and the methods they use to get the data to do so?

"Almost seems like that just-a-theory 'Darwinism' stuff goes hand in hand with this just-a-theory 'germ' stuff. Who knew?"

Indeed, Alexandra. Unfortunately, it is news to some, and unwelcome news at that.

Speaking of "evolution":

http://bialystocker.net/posts/1113212658.shtml

"The reverse evolution of HIV researchers and wannabee bishops in the church."

The item is at the bottom of the page.

What a typical response. Instead of discussing the science, Bialy mocks HIV researcher John Moore by superimposing his picture with a monkey. I guess that behavior just about sums up the HIV "dissident" movement, doesn't it?

Cirya wrote do you know how to find more information on the Kenya sex-worker study?
If you go to PubMed and search for "hiv exposed" AND seronegative, you will find references to several studies that include the cohort of Kenyan female sex workers in question.

"in the brains of those who believe scientists know more and better."

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But scientists DO know more about their specialties than the average layman, because they care about the subject and they spend more time studying it. Construction workers know more about concrete than the average person, too, and my auto mechanic knows more about cars.

Maybe you should try to conduct a controlled experiment that would contradict the germ theory of disease, and then get back to us with the result. If you need help with your experimental design or ideas for finding resources, I'm sure that there are people here to give you a hand.

Of course, that would require putting your beliefs on the line, something that non-scientists have trouble with.

I wrote:

"Of course, that would require putting your beliefs on the line, something that non-scientists have trouble with."

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That is an unfair statement. Everyone, scientists included, has trouble putting their beliefs on the line.

This caricature of Darwin is more creative than Bialy's attempt but has the same amount of scientific content - zero.

1. A plasma sample taken in 1959 from an adult male living in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2. HIV found in tissue samples from an American teenager who died in St. Louis in 1969.
3. HIV found in tissue samples from a Norwegian sailor who died around 1976.

Interesting that 2 of those 3 early examples are now places where you don't see much of an AIDS problem.