[Pathogenesis of HIV infection as the key to eradication? New therapeutic approaches]

While the effectiveness of conventional antiviral treatment is well proven, its limitations are becoming more and more evident. New approaches are resulting from the "decoding" of the pathogenesis of HIV infection. Thus, for example, experimental studies are looking at drug-induced blockade of the co-receptors necessary for the infection of the target cells. Treatment can be applied at all stages of viral replication. So far, reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors have been employed. Other strategies are aimed at immunostimulation (e.g. with interleukin 2) and immunosuppression (cortisone, hydroxyurea). The development of therapeutic vaccines is difficult, but prophylactic vaccines hold out greater promise; field trials are underway.