A new era in HIV vaccine development

Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics

Background

A major deficit of all approaches to epidemic modelling to date has been the need to approximate or guess at human behaviour in disease-transmission-related contexts. Avatars are generally human-like figures in virtual computer worlds controlled by human individuals.

Methods

We introduce the concept of a "havatar", which is a (human, avatar) pairing. Evidence is mounting that this pairing behaves in virtual contexts much like the human in the pairing might behave in analogous real-world contexts.

Results

We propose that studies of havatars, in a virtual world, may give a realistic approximation of human behaviour in real-world contexts. If the virtual world approximates the real world in relevant details (geography, transportation, etc.), virtual epidemics in that world could accurately simulate real-world epidemics. Havatar modelling of epidemics therefore offers a complementary tool for tackling how best to halt epidemics, including perhaps HIV/AIDS, since sexual behaviour is a significant component of some virtual worlds, such as Second Life.

Conclusion

Havatars place the control parameters of an epidemic in the hands of each individual. By providing tools that everyone can understand and use, we could democratise epidemiology.

Spontaneous and treatment-induced cancer rejection in humans

BACKGROUND

Experimental observations suggest that human cancer cells actively interact with normal host cells and this cross-talk results, in most instances, in an increased potential of cancer cells to survive. On the other hand, it is also well documented that on rare occasions tumors can be dramatically destroyed by the host's immune response.

OBJECTIVE

In this review, we argue that understanding the mechanisms that bring about the immune response and lead to cancer destruction is of paramount importance for the design of future rational therapies.

METHODS

Here we summarize the present understanding of the phenomenology leading to cancer regression in humans and propose novel strategies for a more efficient study of human cancer under natural conditions and during therapy.

CONCLUSION

The understanding of tumor/host interactions within the tumor microenvironment is a key component of the study of tumor immunology in humans, much can be learned by a dynamic study of such interactions at time points related to the natural history of the disease or its response to therapy. Such understanding will eventually lead to novel and more effective therapies.