First off, HIV is definitely real, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We can both see virus particles with electron microscopes and we have finished sequencing the HIV genome. The genome sequence has shown that is a variant of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which is HIV for monkeys. There are also other variants that affect different types of animals. HIV is an RNA virus. It infects CD4+ immune cells (helper T cells) which are involved in long term immunity. Once inside the cell, it replicates itself into DNA and copies itself into the genome of the infected cell. Modern AIDS treatments are extremely effective at controlling the replication of HIV. Most people use a three drug cocktail of AZT, Combavir and Sustiva. These drugs generally limit the ability of the virus to replicate. An additional drug, Fuzeon, that acts by inhibiting virus fusion with the CD4 cell in the first place, came on the market in 2003. However, it is very epensive (20,000 US$) per year, and is generally too expensive for most people outside of Europe and North America. When these drugs are combined, the amount of virus in the body can be reduced to indectable levels. However, these people are NOT cured because the virus can hide inside of resting immune cells and can reactivate once the drug treatments are stopped. Currently, there are dozens of projects in progress worldwide researching different ways to cure HIV. Several vaccines are being tested, but HIV mutates at a very fast rate, which makes it difficult to create treatments that are effective for lots of people. For now, the best course of action is prevention through education, abstinence and distribution of condoms. Distribution of the HIV cocktail is also effective, although inconsistent treatment using these drugs will eventually lead to virus that are resistant to the HIV cocktail.