In the 1980s, doctors began noticing a troubling pattern: previously healthy individuals were succumbing to rare diseases that their immune systems couldn’t fend off. This alarming phenomenon was traced back to the HIV virus, which ultimately leads to the development of AIDS—a condition where the immune system stops functioning properly.

In today's episode, we delve into the scientific quest to uncover the origins of this medical mystery, explore the origins of the virus, and bring a warning about proper hygiene when hunting monkeys.

*

If you enjoyed this episode and want to stay updated on more virology stories, please follow @virology_podcast or @karolina_science on Instagram :). The podcast is also available in Czech as “Podcast o virech”.

*

Sources:

CDC, 1981: Pneumocystis Pneumonia -- Los Angeles • CDC, 1981: Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis pneumonia among homosexual men--New York City and California • F. Barré-Sinoussi, 1983: Isolation of a T-lymphotropic retrovirus from a patient at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) • J. Hemelaar, 2012: The origin and diversity of the HIV-1 pandemic • T. Zhu, 1998: An African HIV-1 sequence from 1959 and implications for the origin of the epidemic • M. Worobey, 2008: Direct evidence of extensive diversity of HIV-1 in Kinshasa by 1960 • D. Quammen, 2015: The Chimp and the River • PM. Sharp, 2011: Origins of HIV and the AIDS Pandemic • T. Cihlar, 2016: Current status and prospects of HIV treatment • LG. Bekker, 2024: Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir or Daily F/TAF for HIV Prevention in Cisgender Women • J. Paik, 2022: Lenacapavir: First Approval • M. Worobey, 2016: 1970s and ‘Patient 0’ HIV-1 genomes illuminate early HIV/AIDS history in North America • RA McKay, 2014: Patient Zero • B. Lein, 2024: AIDS treatment activism, a Bay area story (online, accessed 14/07/2024)