Could HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, be weakening The results of a study conducted in Belgium, at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, seem to suggest that in one corner of the world it might be. The report, published in the latest issue of AIDS, a specialist journal, concludes that HIV’s ability to replicate (known technically as its virulence) may have decreased since the start of the pandemic. Kevin Aden, the lead author of the paper, stresses that the study is based on a small set of samples and does not prove that HIV’s virulence is attenuating around the world. However, it does offer new insights into the evolution of the disease.
Dr. Arien looked at 24 blood samples collected from untreated patients attending an HIV/ AIDS clinic in Antwerp. A dozen of these samples were taken between 1986 and 1989; the other 12 were collected between 2002 and 2003. First, he analyzed the samples to find their viral load (the number of virus particles per cub
A. weakening.
B. accentuating.
C. accelerating.
D. increasing.
A. high-profile attempt to eradicate the AIDS virus in a few patients continues to show promise.
But researchers won’t know for a year or more whether it will work, scientist David Ho told journalists here Wednesday for the Fourth Conference in Viruses and Infections.
"This is a study that’s in progress, " says Ho, head of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center. New York.
The study involves 20 people who started combinations of anti-HIV drugs very early in the course of the disease, within 90 days of their infections. They’ve been treated for up to 18 months. Four others have dropped out because of side effects or problems complying with the exacting drug system.
The drugs have knocked the AIDS virus down to undetectable levels in the blood of all remaining patients. And, in the latest development, scientists have now tested lymph
A. continues to be hopeful
B. will be successful in a year
C. will be successful in future
D. will stop being hopeful
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