}}</ref> HIV-1 is more virulent. It is easily transmitted and is the cause of the majority of HIV infections globally. HIV-2 is less transmittable and is largely confined to [[West Africa]]. HIV-1 is the species described below.
}}</ref> HIV-1 is more virulent. It is easily transmitted and is the cause of the majority of HIV infections globally. HIV-2 is less transmittable and is largely confined to [[West Africa]]. HIV-1 is the species described below.
== Identification of the virus ==
===May 1983: LAV===
In May [[1983]], doctors from Dr. [[Luc Montagnier]]'s team at the [[Pasteur Institute]] in [[France]], reported that they had isolated a new [[retrovirus]] from [[lymph node|lymphoid ganglions]] that they believed was the cause of AIDS. <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=6189183&query_hl=26 Barre-Sinoussi et al., 1983]</ref> The virus was later named lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) and a sample was sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which was later passed to the [[National Cancer Institute]] (NCI).<ref>Connor and Kingman, 1988 (ISBN 0-14-011397-5)</ref>
<ref name=Barre>{{cite journal
| author=Barré-Sinoussi, F., Chermann, J. C., Rey, F., Nugeyre, M. T., Chamaret, S., Gruest, J., Dauguet, C., Axler-Blin, C., Vezinet-Brun, F., Rouzioux, C., Rozenbaum, W. and Montagnier, L.
| title=Isolation of a T-lymphotropic retrovirus from a patient at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) | journal=Science
| year=1983
| pages=868-871
| volume=220
| issue=4599
| id= PMID 6189183
| format=
}}</ref>
===May 1984: HTLV-III===
In May [[1984]] a team led by [[Robert Gallo]] of the [[United States]] confirmed the discovery of the virus, but they renamed it human T lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III).<ref name=Popovic>{{cite journal
| author=Popovic, M., Sarngadharan, M. G., Read, E. and Gallo, R. C.
| title=Detection, isolation, and continuous production of cytopathic retroviruses (HTLV-III) from patients with AIDS and pre-AIDS
| journal=Science
| year=1984
| pages=497-500
| volume=224
| issue=4648
| id= PMID 6200935
| format=
}}</ref> <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=6200935&query_hl=28 Popovic et al., 1984]</ref> The dual discovery led to considerable scientific disagreement, and it was not until [[François Mitterrand|President Mitterrand]] of France and [[Ronald Reagan|President Reagan]] of the USA met that the major issues were resolved.
===Jan 1985: both found to be the same===
In January [[1985]] a number of more detailed reports were published concerning LAV and HTLV-III, and by March it was clear that the viruses were the same, from the same source, and was the etiological agent of AIDS <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2983427&query_hl=30 Marx, 1985]</ref> <ref>[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v363/n6428/abs/363466a0.html;jsessionid=558F640A131E25D5A6DF08F63367BBA8 Chang et al., 1993]</ref>
===May 1986: the name HIV===
In May [[1986]], the [[International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses]] ruled that both names should be dropped and a new name, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), be used. <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3010128&query_hl=34 Coffin et al., 1986]</ref>
HIV, the infectious agent of AIDS, is thought to have originated in non-human primates in sub-Saharan Africa and transferred to humans during the 20th century. The epidemic officially began on 5 June 1981.
Two species of HIV infect humans: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-2 may have originated from the Sooty Mangabey (Cercocebus atys), an Old World monkey of Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, and Cameroon.[1] HIV-1 is more virulent. It is easily transmitted and is the cause of the majority of HIV infections globally. HIV-2 is less transmittable and is largely confined to West Africa. HIV-1 is the species described below.
Reference
↑Reeves, J. D. and Doms, R. W (2002). "Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2". J. Gen. Virol. 83 (Pt 6): 1253–1265. PMID 12029140.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
