Virus Hunting: AIDS, Cancer, and the Human Retrovirus: A Story of Scientific Discovery

This is a must read for anyone interested in science, and is especially inspiring towards anyone interested in pursuing biomedical research. Only a scientist like Robert Gallo could have been resilent enough to continue great discoveries (eg. IL2( , inspite of being relentlessly besieged by nay sayers, a zealous journalist, and one politician. Gallo shows that despite all odds ,one may still rise like a phoenix from ashes. Bravo! Ex Libris!

Virus Hunting provides an interesting understanding into the scientific quest in the study of tumor cell biology. It lays the foundation of the most complex of viral, epidemiological parthenogenesis, that of Human Retro virology, HIV-AIDS. The lab tech procedures used at NCI at the time: mass tissue cell growth cultures, assay developments, etc., continue to hold significant disease applicability, and contributes to future disease models investigations and research and development. Since, virology is an esoteric discipline; the book was designed to reach wide audiences, presenting a more personal account. For HIV-AIDS research purposes, a plethora of academic references can be found in reknown science journals. The book describes, in addition, an extraordinary life story, tragedy as the source of creative scientific inspiration, culminating ultimately to discovery. Some readers may miss these subtle nuances. Great ideas originate from contentious, unorthodox individuals who defy and cut across the grain, remembering and giving gratitude to the critics and pretenders; however, vapid for they are as modern muses. When I read the book, I think of that rambunctious ass, Amadeaus and those scowling would be, Scalieries epitomizing those less accomplished. The rating was lowered solely on the grounds of poor mechanics.

Egotistical he may be, but you can't hold his personality against him. It shows an intersting perspective on the science world...

This book needs to be read by everyone

This book is the story of the discovery of human retroviruses including the AIDS virus. It traces the life of Robert Gallo from his first job to world fame and controversy. There is a lot of good detail about retroviruses and the techniques being used to fight them. The book does stumble sometimes. Some of the history is writen in a defensive style to dispell the negative reaction that Dr. Gallo has receive because of the anti-body test dispute with the French. Also the process of discovery, where he talks about lab work is very, very boring. It lacks the right kind of details to get the reader excited. Except for the above points it is good book that should be read.