Frank Miedema - Böcker

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is characterized by the destruction of the host immune system as also reflected by a progressive loss of CD4-positive T-cells. This finally results in the host's incapacity to deal with opportunistic infections and the immune surveillance of tumours, a clinical status known as the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Providing a complete overview of the clinical course of HIV-1 infection, this text describes the clinical aspects of primary infection, the different clinical outcomes of HIV-1 infection, and strategies for anti-viral treatment. In addition, more fundamental aspects of HIV-1 infection are reviewed. These include the biology of the virus and the novel insights in AIDS pathogenesis. Not only is the significance of an HIV-specific cellular and humoral immune response discussed, but also the possible incapacity of the adult human host to deal with T-cell destruction. Finally, the book discusses the laboratory markers being used in 2000 that allow for monitoring of the clinical course of infection.

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is characterized by the destruction of the host immune system as also reflected by a progressive loss of CD4-positive T-cells. This finally results in the host's incapacity to deal with opportunistic infections and the immune surveillance of tumors, a clinical status known as the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The book AIDS Pathogenesis provides the reader with a complete overview of the clinical course of HIV-1 infection. It describes the clinical aspects of primary infection, the different clinical outcomes of HIV-1 infection, and strategies for anti-viral treatment. In addition, more fundamental aspects of HIV-1 infection are reviewed. These include the biology of the virus and the novel insights in AIDS pathogenesis. Not only is the significance of an HIV-specific cellular and humoral immune response discussed, but also the possible incapacity of the adult human host to deal with T-cell destruction. Finally, the book discusses the currently used laboratory markers that allow for monitoring of the clinical course of infection.

In our modern knowledge economy, the life sciences constitute a major driver of innovation, involving many people and huge capital investment. Frank Miedema discusses how external forces changed the life sciences and how this affected the lives and careers of scientists. He argues that the romantic view of science as a consensus machine with scientists acting as altruistic truth seekers does not hold and is in need of revision. He is looking at the status of the products of the life sciences and at the ways scientists try to improve the impact of science in public debate and policy making. Despite the disenchantment that we are witnessing, he argues that science is a powerful tool in producing invaluable knowledge, needed to address the challenges of our time.

This open access book provides a broad context for the understanding of current problems of science and of the different movements aiming to improve the societal impact of science and research.