Looking back at the first stages in the discovery of HIV

To mark the anniversary of the first publication of the findings by the co-discoverers of HIV in the journal Science on May 20, 1983, the Research Journal invites you to look back at the first major milestones in this historical discovery.

•    40 years of HIV discovery: the first cases of a mysterious disease in the early 1980s

In 1981, the first cases of a completely unknown disease were described in the United States. Plague or gay syndrome, cancer, pneumonia? Rumors were rife. Let’s have an eye back on this story of an emerging disease.

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•    40 years of HIV discovery: the virus responsible for AIDS is identified on May 20, 1983

In 1983, HIV -the virus responsible for AIDS- was isolated by virologists from the Institut Pasteur. A first observation with a microscope in February was confirmed in May 83 by a publication in Science, the prestigious scientific journal. The revelation of a retrovirus will gradually change the beliefs around this disease. This discovery will also bring patients and researchers together around one of the greatest contemporary challenges in human health.

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Photo : Couverture du cahier de laboratoire de Françoise Barré-Sinoussi en 1983, premières expériences montrant une activité reverse-transcriptase (spécifique des rétrovirus) dans les surnageants de culture de cellules d'un patient .