Finally, an HIV-1 article I can support

I complain about crappy science journalism a lot. So I better give journalists and scientists a high-five when they do something right-- And Nikhil Swaminathan dun gud. Sure Im annoyed at him for calling HIV-1 a 'bug' (people know what a virus is), but he asked Anthony Fauci the *right* questions (and Dr. Fauci gave the *right* answers :P)

HIV Vaccine Research: "Swimming in the Dark"

Swaminathan wanted to know why we dont have an HIV-1 vaccine, despite scientists promising one year after year after year. He wanted to know why making an HIV-1 vaccine was so hard (seriously, why could they make a polio vaccine 60 years ago, and we cant do the same thing with todays technology??). Why are all these HIV-1 vaccine trials failing? Why are they being canceled before they even start??

Practical questions and practical answers. Not the usual grandiose crap you get with HIV-1 pop-journalism. Good job, you two!

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AIDS science is cargo cult science at its worst. The reason these twits can't develop a vaccine is because HIV is a harmless retrovirus (like all retroviruses), and doesn't generate an antibody response.

It has taken 25 years and billions of dollars of research and they STILL can't see this. What a bunch of tools.

Fire them all, I say.

Off-topic, just to say that Nikhil is an Indian male name, not female. :)

Yup, Sunil is right. I, Nikhil Swaminathan, am male. Oh, and a hat tip to my editor for referring to HIV as a "bug."

Thanks for the shout out, ERV!

nikhil

Perhaps you can comment on the lack of NiH and CDC researchers at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. I think your Senator Tom Coburn had something to do with this...

By michael fugate (not verified) on 08 Aug 2008 #permalink