HIV & Duesberg Phenomenon - Cover Sheet SCI Home | SCI Faculty Page | Case Notes | Reference List | Users Notes

Author - Tom Huber - Summer 1997

Adapted for use in SCI with some quoting from: Clyde Freeman Herreid. 1997. AIDS and the Duesberg Phenomenon: A Problem-Based Learning Case Study. State University of New York at Buffalo. [http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/aids.htm]

Case Purpose The purpose of this case is:

• to introduce students to the concept of causation and how it was determined in a specific case from the biological sciences;
• to teach students about the human immune system, AIDS, and HIV;
• to teach students how to raise questions and find answers, using library sources;
• to teach students how to evaluate information, draw conclusions, and express these in writing.

Relation to Texts This case is illustrative of problems associated with reaching consensuality (1.4) and, if the second section is used, can be related to the research differences among the natural, behavioral, and social sciences (7.1 - 7.10). The case is probably best used at the end of the quarter because it does not address directly points made by Ziman.

Description of Case Materials This case lasts for three (or seven) class meetings. The first section (three days) is centered on an opposing pair of short 1988 Science magazine articles: one by Dr. Peter Duesberg of the University of California at Berkeley entitled "HIV is not the cause of AIDS," and one by Drs. W. Blattner, R.C. Gallo, and H.M. Temin entitled "HIV causes AIDS" and the responses of these scientists to each other. Additional materials provided at subsequent meetings allow students to learn about the human immune system, how HIV causes AIDS, how to prevent infection, and recent findings that explore the complexity of the biological situation. A final writing assignment requires students to respond, point by point, to Duesberg’s original objections to considering HIV the causative agent for AIDS. The second section (4 days) allows students to explore how different disciplines conduct research concerning different aspects of AIDS.

Case Use This case is designed to be used with groups of four students. It requires students to identify learning issues, research different aspects of these issues, and respond to specific points made by one of the scientists. Some time is required outside of class for students to use library resources.

Reference List (for first week; possible references for second week are contained within):

• Blattner, W., R.C. Gallo, and H.M. Temin. 1988. HIV causes AIDS. Science 241: 515.
• Blattner, W., R.C. Gallo, and H.M. Temin. 1988. Blattner and colleagues respond to Duesberg. Science 241: 514 & 517.
• Campbell, N.A. 1996. The body’s defenses. In Biology, Fourth Edition (Chapter 39: 852-877). The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc., Menlo Park, California.
• Deng, H., R. Liu, W. Ellmeier, S. Choe, D. Unutmaz, M. Burkhart, P. DiMarzio, S. Marmon, R.E. Sutton, C.M. Hill, C.B. Davis, S.C. Peiper, T.J. Schall, D.R. Littman and N.R. Landau. 1996. Identification of a major co-receptor for primary isolates of HIV-1. Nature 381: 661-666.
• Duesberg, P. 1988. HIV is not the cause of AIDS. Science 241: 514.
• Duesberg, P. 1988. Duesberg’s response to Blattner and colleagues. Science 241: 515-516.
• Duesberg, P. 1991. AIDS epidemiology: Inconsistencies with human immunodeficiency virus and with infectious disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 88: 1575-1579.
• Duesberg, P. 1995. Duesberg on AIDS causation: The culprit is non contagious risk factors. The Scientist (March 20, 1995).
• Goodman, B. 1995. A controversy that will not die: The role of HIV in causing AIDS. The Scientist (March 20, 1995).
• Moore, J. 1996. A Duesberg adieu! Nature 380: 293-294.
• Nowak, M.A. and A.J. McMichael. 1995. How HIV defeats the immune system. Scientific American Aug. 1995: 58-65.
• Richardson, S. 1997. Crushing HIV. Discover 18 (Jan. 1997): 28-29.
• Richardson, S. 1997. The Second Key (HIV virus receptors). Discover 18 (Jan. 1997): 29-30.