Do HIV and AIDS exist

[Deetee]

Would be it be horrible if I marvel at how it reproduces and leaves the cell (hiding in a coating of our own cytoplasm)?

It really is quite amazing, from the parasite's view. Retroviruses are pretty amazing, from a parasite's view.

HIV will eventually adapt to become non-pathogenic in humans, the same way that SIV has adapted to become non-pathogenic in African monkeys.

 

[Capsid]

HIV will eventually adapt to become non-pathogenic in humans, the same way that SIV has adapted to become non-pathogenic in African monkeys.

Or the host will adapt. The CCR5 delta 32 mutation appears to protect against HIV.

 

[Cuddles]

HIV will eventually adapt to become non-pathogenic in humans, the same way that SIV has adapted to become non-pathogenic in African monkeys.

Or it will become more pathogenic and wipe us out, before dying out itself. Or none of the above. The diseases we see today are the ones that have tended to do as you say, because otherwise they wouldn't be here today, but that certainly does not mean that is always what happens. Natural selection is only short term, if something survives better today then it doesn't matter if that means it will be gone in several generations. If anything, I think HIV is less likely to become less pathogenic than other viruses. It takes so long to kill people that the death rate simply makes no difference to it's survival. HIV could infect every person on the planet and be just as deadly as it is now, but as long as some people survive long enough to reproduce it would still keep going.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

HIV will eventually adapt to become non-pathogenic in humans, the same way that SIV has adapted to become non-pathogenic in African monkeys.

That could take a very very long time given the fact people often die after they reproduce.

 

[Deetee]

True - valid points.
The simian retrovirus scenario does bear some comparison, however. It is assumed that when SIV first evolved in Africa that it would have been pathogenic in the same way as it is in Asian macaques, who have a very similar natural history of infection as humans do with HIV - slow progressive immune deficiency and simian "AIDS".
If it can happen for other primates, it may happen for humans too.

 

[robinson]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21631734-2,00.html

Judge throws out 'HIV doesn't exist' appeal

By Todd Cardy

April 27, 2007 05:56pm
Article from: AAP

A HIV-positive man convicted for having unprotected sex with three women has lost an appeal, after a South Australian judge rejected defence claims the virus does not exist.

Andre Chad Parenzee, 36, was convicted on three counts of endangering life last January after one of the women, a mother of two, became infected with HIV.

Defence lawyers launched an appeal calling two Perth medical researchers – Eleni Papadopulos-Eleopulos and Dr Valendar Turner – who testified in the South Australian Court of Appeal that the virus did not exist and could not be sexually transmitted.

The two AIDS-dissidents are members of the Perth Group, founded by Ms Papadopulos-Eleopulos, that believes HIV is not the cause of AIDS.

Justice John Sulan today dismissed the witnesses' testimony, saying the pair lacked credibility and were advocates for a cause rather than independent experts.

He said the evidence that HIV existed was compelling and he rejected the application for a re-trial.

"I am satisfied that no jury would conclude that there is any doubt that the virus HIV exists," he said in his judgment.

more at link

 

[Deetee]

If you go to Tara'a Aetiology blog you can find an ongoing thread about this.

The crdibility of the Perth group denialists really lies in tatters after this judgement. Here is the Judge's take on the Perth groups claims to be suiatable expeert witnesess regarding the issues:

Ms Papadopulos-Eleopulos has no formal qualifications in medicine, biology, virology, immunology, epidemiology or any other medical disciplines. She has never treated or been directly involved in clinical trials of any kind relating to any disease. Her duties at the Royal Perth Hospital are to test people for sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation.

His [Valendar Turner's] opinions are based on reading scientific literature, studying of scientific literature, and spending a considerable amount of time thinking."

I reckon the Perth Group should use these two statements as disclaimers on the top of each page of their web site.