STI and beyond: the prospects of boosting anti-HIV immune responses

• Published in: Trends in Immunology 2002-09, Vol.23 (9), p.456-460
• Main Authors: Allen, Todd M, Kelleher, Anthony D, Zaunders, John, Walker, Bruce D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Animals; Anti-HIV Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active - methods; Chronic Disease; Drug therapy; HIV; HIV - immunology; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immune system; Infections; Mortality; Zidovudine - administration & dosage; Zidovudine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1471-4906; 1471-4981
• DOI: 10.1016/S1471-4906(02)02297-4

Twenty years into the HIV epidemic, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) represents the only effective intervention to control HIV-1 disease progression. However, the prospect of life-long treatment with HAART is challenging given cumulative drug toxicities, difficulties with adherence to complicated regimens and the looming emergence of drug-resistant viruses. The challenges are even greater in resource-poor settings where costs and logistical problems with delivery represent formidable obstacles. Alternative approaches to long-term control of viral replication and disease progression are clearly needed. HAART is the only way to control HIV-1 progression, however, with cumulative drug toxicities and the looming emergence of drug-resistant viruses among the future problems, alternative approaches are clearly needed.