Abstract:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) is the etiological agent of Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the worst pandemic of mankind. Despite the
enormous amount of effort dedicated on restricting the spread of the infection, HIV
expansion shows no sign of slowing. WHO/UNAIDS estimates that nearly 30 million
people are living with HIV infection as of 2007 with as many as 5 million fresh infections
each year. The Sub-Saharan regions are the most affected with an estimated 21.6 to 27.4
million people currently living with HIV and India has the second largest infections, with
2.5 million infections (0.36% of the adult population). Although the introduction of
effective antiretroviral drugs has had its impact on controlling the infection in the
developed nations, their use in the developing nations has been limited and hence less
likely to control the pandemic effectively. Despite the increased efforts, a vaccine for
HIV/AIDS still remains elusive.
