Preface [Hot Topic: Recent Advances in the Treatment of HIV Infection (Guest Editor: Jayaram R. Tagat)]

Just as the decimation of people and societies by the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) over the past two decades is alarming, the science spawned by its causative agent, the type-1 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) is impressive. This second collection of reviews on recent advances in the treatment of HIV Infection in Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry (Also see: CTMC, 3(13), 2003) is a testimonial to the scientific attention that this virus has attracted in recent times. These two volumes nicely complement each other and should serve as useful sources of references for researchers and students. Health care professionals are in agreement that while HIV-1 may be controlled, it is not yet conquered. In this issue, we have a collection of six reviews describing various classes of small organic molecules for inhibiting specific steps in the life cycle of HIV. Each review is an expert account, evolving from the background and rationale for that particular approach all the way to a discussion of recent clinical data. I would like to thank each and every one of the authors for their contribution to this issue. The willingness to share their expertise and devote their time to the writing of these articles, especially in these tough times, is very much appreciated. I would also like to thank Dr. Allen Reitz, the Editor-in-Chief of Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry for his support throughout the compilation of this issue.