Introduction to

Basic Science of
HIV/AIDS
BREAKDOWN OF HIV
RESEARCH
• BASIC SCIENCE
• Seeks the fundamental understanding of the
biological, chemical, and physical nature of HIV.
• CLINICAL SCIENCE
• Seeks the understanding of the prevention,
treatment, and/or the diagnosis of HIV infection
in humans.
• SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
• Seeks the systematic analysis and investigation of
human behavior in the context of HIV.
Relationship of the
sciences
Basic Science

Translational
Science

Social/Behavioral
Clinical Science
Science
 Don’t’ be afraid to ask
questions or have us slow
down
Scientists are people too…
A lot of things seem obvious…
 OUTLINE OF BASIC
SCIENCE
Module 1.1 Natural History of HIV
Data Interpretation and Biostatistics
HIV Structure, Lifecycle, and Replication
Overview of the Human Immune System
Origins of HIV
Immune Responses to HIV
Pathogenesis of HIV Disease and Markers of
Progression
Immune Reconstitution

Module 1.2 HIV Basic Science

Introduction to Basic Sciences
Model Systems to Study HIV
Major Basic Science Discoveries in HIV
Current HIV Basic Science Research Topics
HIV Cure
Translation Science – Bench to Bedside to
Community
 History of HIV from the
Basic Science Perspective

• 1940’s: Evidence of the first infections of humans

with HIV (discovered in the 00’s)
• 1981: First clinical report of AIDS (UCLA)
• 1983: Discovery of HIV
• 1985: AZT, first antiretroviral drug
• 1996: Effective combination therapy (HAART)
• 2009: First reported “cure” of HIV infection
 History of HIV from the Basic
Science Perspective
(Contributions of Basic Science)
•1940’s: Evidence of the first infections of humans with HIV
•Identification and analysis of virus in frozen blood samples
•1981: First Clinical report of AIDS (UCLA)
•Identified CD4 T cell loss
•1983: Discovery of HIV
•HIV was grown in the lab from a patient’s blood
•1985: AZT first antiretroviral drug
•Addition of AZT to virus stopped its growth in the lab
•1996: Effective combination therapy (HAART)
•Development of new classes of drugs were due to greater understanding
of the viruses structure and replication
•2009: First reported “cure” of HIV infection
•Identification of people who were not susceptible to infection due to lack
of expression of an HIV receptor
 What to look Out for:
Basic Science

• Understanding of how the virus replicates

• Understanding of how antiretroviral drugs work

• Understanding of the human immune system and how

it is important in HIV infection

• Understanding of how HIV causes disease

• Understanding of how passionate HIV researchers are

in finding a cure and what these approaches may be.
 What basic scientists do needs to be
conveyed to find a cure for HIV disease

Understanding basic science aspects of HIV infection helps to communicate new research
findings, better treatment options, and hope to your constituencies.