HIV's origins in Africa

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/video/index.html

In this video, Dr. Beatrice Hahn explains the origins of HIV in Africa. She explained that her research and studies have led to the conclusion that HIV was introduced into the human population through "cross-species transmission." However, she said that cross-species transmission alone is not sufficient enough to cause an epidemic. There had to be other contributing factors. Remarkably, there are primates Sub-Saharan Africa who are already naturally infected, yet do not show any signs of disease or immunodeficiency. But Dr. Hahn has traced HIV's roots to these very distinctive chimp communities and has traced its course from South East Cameroon, to Kinshasa, over the Congo river and into East Africa, specifically Uganda, where it was first clinically discovered.

This video relates to our class as we will be studying HIV and it's pathogenesis, as we have been with other infectious bacteria such as E.Coli and Streptococcus.