Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections).
FDA approves first over-the-counter home use HIV test kit – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, the first over-the-counter, self-administered HIV test kit to detect the presence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Erase Doubt Teams Up With Walgreens And Greater Than AIDS To Offer Free HIV Testing During HIV Testing Week 2012 – June 27 is National HIV Testing Day. In Los Angeles County, a whole week is dedicated to offering free HIV testing. During the week of June 25 – July 2, 2012 residents can find free HIV testing available throughout the county.
Natural HIV control may rely on sequence of T cell receptor protein — Protein on the surface of killer T cells appears to confer ability to suppress viral replication – The rare ability of some individuals to control HIV infection with their immune system alone appears to depend ? at least partially ? on specific qualities of the immune system’s killer T cells and not on how many of those cells are produced. Even among individuals sharing a protective version of an important immune system molecule ? the ability of HIV-specific killer T cells to control viral replication appears to depend on the particular sequence of the protein that recognizes HIV infected cells.
New research reveals how protein protects cells from HIV infection — Finding offers potential new drug targets aimed at slowing progression of disease – Researchers reveal a mechanism by which the immune system tries to halt the spread of HIV. Harnessing this mechanism may open up new paths for therapeutic research aimed at slowing the virus’ progression to AIDS.
Investments for children must be at top of African HIV and AIDS agenda – All children, particularly the poorest and most marginalized, should have access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care. Against the background of reduced funding for HIV/AIDS activities, partners and decision makers must sustain their contributions to make this world HIV free.
Too many Americans don’t know they have HIV. – An estimated 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United States. Of those, as many as 1 in 5 people (about 240,000) don’t know they have HIV.
Nearly 50% of people who are eligible for antiretroviral therapy now have access to lifesaving treatment – New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have fallen to the lowest levels since the peak of the epidemic. New HIV infections were reduced by 21% since 1997, and deaths from AIDS-related illnesses decreased by 21% since 2005.
Study in Lancet finds use of hormonal contraception doubles HIV risk — University of Washington researchers conducted trial in Africa – Women using hormonal contraception — such as a birth control pill or a shot like Depo-Provera ? are at double the risk of acquiring HIV, and HIV-infected women who use hormonal contraception have twice the risk of transmitting the virus to their HIV-uninfected male partners.
Odds for detecting HIV varies by method, new study finds – The odds for effectively detecting HIV in African-American men vary by method, researchers have found in a recent study, which appears in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
HIV rate is increasing among young black gay men in US – While blacks represent 14 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for 44 percent of new HIV infections in 2009. HIV infection rates among blacks were nearly eight times higher than rates in whites.
