Tag Archives: HIV

Hard Science

Living with HIV – Undetectable = Untransmittable

HIV Positive - Image from Colourbox.com (Supplier Kiyoshi Takahase Segundo)

While in the 80’s and early 90’s, an HIV infection meant a death sentence for many infected people, today HIV-infected individuals can live a normal life thanks to antiretroviral therapy [1]. The combination of three different drugs (which might be all in one pill) blocks the replication of the virus to such a low level, that it becomes undetectable in the blood. The easiest explanation … Continue reading Living with HIV – Undetectable = Untransmittable »

Hard Science

Unveiling the identity of a “super-immune stimulatory” DNA

It has long been known that recognition of microbial DNA in the cytosol induces an antiviral type I interferon immune response. However, until recently, only long double-stranded DNA had been considered as immune stimulatory. Thus, it has remained unclear whether other structural features than base paired DNA stretches are crucial for activation of cytosolic DNA sensors, and if for example single-stranded reverse transcripts of lentiviruses … Continue reading Unveiling the identity of a “super-immune stimulatory” DNA »