The AIDS epidemic has been a global public health issue for more than 40 years and has resulted in ~40 million deaths. AIDS is caused by the retrovirus, HIV-1, which is transmitted via body fluids and secretions. After infection, the virus invades host cells by attaching to CD4 receptors and thereafter one of two major chemokine coreceptors, CCR5 or CXCR4, destroying the host cell, most often a T lymphocyte, as it replicates. If unchecked this can lead to an immune-deficient state and demise over a period of ~2–10 years. The discovery and global roll-out of rapid diagnostics and effective antiretroviral therapy led to a large reduction in mortality and morbidity and to an expanding group of individuals requiring lifelong viral suppressive therapy. Viral suppression eliminates sexual transmission of the virus and greatly improves health outcomes. HIV infection, although still stigmatized, is now a chronic and manageable condition. Ultimate epidemic control will require prevention and treatment to be made available, affordable and accessible for all. Furthermore, the focus should be heavily oriented towards long-term well-being, care for multimorbidity and good quality of life. Intense research efforts continue for therapeutic and/or preventive vaccines, novel immunotherapies and a cure.

40 多年来，艾滋病流行一直是全球公共卫生问题，已导致约 4000 万人死亡。艾滋病是由逆转录病毒 HIV-1 引起的，它通过体液和分泌物传播。感染后，病毒通过附着在 CD4 受体上，然后附着在两个主要趋化因子辅助受体 CCR5 或 CXCR4 之一上来侵入宿主细胞，在复制时破坏宿主细胞（最常见的是 T 淋巴细胞）。如果不加以控制，这可能会导致免疫缺陷状态并在约 2-10 年内死亡。快速诊断和有效抗逆转录病毒治疗的发现和全球推广导致死亡率和发病率大幅下降，并导致越来越多的人需要终身病毒抑制治疗。病毒抑制消除了病毒的性传播并大大改善了健康结果。艾滋病毒感染虽然仍然受到污名化，但现在已成为一种慢性且可控制的疾病。最终的流行病控制将需要为所有人提供预防和治疗服务，使所有人都能负担得起并能够获得预防和治疗。此外，重点应重点放在长期福祉、多种疾病的护理和良好的生活质量上。治疗性和/或预防性疫苗、新型免疫疗法和治愈方法的深入研究工作仍在继续。