Environmental factors in HIV/AIDS epidemic development: new perspectives for gender equity and global protection against HIV transmission.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is increasingly regarded as a socioeconomic problem. Among factors causing poverty, cultural aspects, including religion and traditions, appear to play an essential role in the rapid and global development of AIDS epidemic. AIDS is a pathologic syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Scientific knowledge is required to prevent and treat AIDS. Although considerable progress has been made in antiretroviral therapy, neither actual cure of HIV infection, nor an efficient protection method, nor a vaccine are currently globally accessible. Consequently, the funding of scientific research is of utmost importance. On the basis of recent scientific findings, new perspectives for global protection and gender equity against HIV transmission are emerging. Progress is being made in developing microbicides or virucides, anti-infective medication formulated for topical self-administration, to protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted pathogens. Such developments need to be supported by extensive education campaigns geared to women to give them the possibility of protecting themselves and their children from HIV transmission. The level of funding for microbicide and vaccine development needs to be greatly increased. New possibilities have emerged for an efficient vaccine which would engage the mucosal immune system, first involved in the sexual transmission of HIV-1. The idea of vaccine production in edible tissues of transgenic crop plants has also gained momentum. The use of minimally processed, low-cost, orally delivered immunogens is especially valuable when raising mucosal antibodies is the object and when frequent boosting is anticipated, as is the case for mucosal immunity.