The first of a two-part series on HIV starts with the virus itself and its history. Florian Krammer explains why HIV is one of the most cunning viruses we know: it infects the very cells of the immune system, permanently writes itself into our DNA, and hides from immune detection. The episode also covers how the virus is transmitted, why around one percent of Europeans are naturally protected from infection, how HIV likely jumped from primates to humans, and how it was discovered in the early 1980s - including the myth of "Patient 0." Part 2 will turn to stigma, activism, treatments, and the current situation.

Review article about the origins of HIV-1 and HIV-2:

Review/perspective article about the discovery of HIV by Gallo and

WHO HIV and AIDS information page: