International AIDS Day

The first day of December is International AIDS day. This disease, when it made its appearance, seemed to snuff the light of the entire planet. Today it is under control, thanks to the discovery of many new drugs. It all began in 1988 when the first retroviral protease structure was solved in our laboratory, viz., the crystal structure of Rous sarcoma virus protease and later the HIV-1 protease. I consider our effort as that of the proverbial squirrel trying to help the mythological hero rAmA in building the bridge across the sea. Today we have a full spectrum of drugs in combating the disease. However, the virus is a very intelligent one as it continuously mutates defeating the well laid plans. It has become a hide-and-seek game, sometime the virus winning the game and the sometime the human science. The drugs available at present may be found here -
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/byAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/HIVandAIDSActivities/ucm118915.htm
It is not the discovery of drugs, but their availability to the poor and the ignorant populace that is the central issue. There is so much money allotted to combat terrorism, but only a fraction on public health and AIDS. The problem is acute in the sub-Saharan Acfrica and India. Let us not forget that anybody can contract AIDS. So education in this regard is of paramount importance. Here is a pattern made out of AIDS ribbons.

Regards! - mOhana