During the project exploration stage, we reviewed information on the characteristics of the HIV virus, the mechanism of HIV virus invasion into the human body, and global research progress on the HIV virus through online searches and literature searches. Reading a lot of information and data provided us with great help, and further determined the research direction of this project - nucleic acid solutions for the HIV virus. Relevant research results were published online in the journal Nature on September 21, 2022, with the title of “Long-primed germinal centres with enduring affinity maturation and clonal migration”.

1、Questionnaire

We launched the first round of research activities in the form of an online questionnaire, focusing on the theme of "Public Basic Understanding of the HIV Virus" to understand the dangers of the HIV virus, transmission routes, treatment methods, prevention methods, epidemic status, etc. aspects of cognition.

This online questionnaire received a total of 358 valid responses from people of different age groups in different cities in China, of which 60.17% were women and 39.83% were men. Through the analysis of this survey report, we found that the public’s awareness of basic knowledge about HIV and AIDS is not high, with 76.35% of people only knowing a little bit. And I don’t know much about AIDS vaccines and whether drugs can cure AIDS, and I would like to know more about the following keywords.

Popular Feedback on What You Most Want to Know About HIV

2、Expert Interview

At the same time, we conducted Expert Interviews in shopping malls with large traffic in Beijing. We asked nearly 50 people. Most of them rejected us after mentioning HIV or AIDS. A total of 13 people accepted our interview. Most of them are women, and young people are more likely to accept HIV-related discussion topics. Some college students and high school students have reported that there are few channels to learn about HIV and AIDS, and they only pay attention when the school carries out science popularization activities related to AIDS prevention and treatment from time to time.

Information on the spread, prevention, and treatment of the HIV virus requires more detailed and targeted public science propaganda and education. Only by letting people understand and understand the HIV virus can we reduce the spread of the HIV virus and reduce the risk of infection to a certain extent.

Through these two research activities, we realized that the study of HIV virus is not only a biological issue, but also a social issue faced by all mankind, which further strengthened our research and exploration of HIV virus.

3、Expert interview

In response to public feedback from questionnaire surveys and Expert Interviews, we invited Dr. Wang (Doctor of Medicine, postdoctoral fellow in economics, currently teaching at a university in Beijing) to learn about the difference between HIV infection and AIDS, the current level of HIV treatment, and treatment Dr. Wang answered our questions one by one about drug resistance and side effects, difficulties in HIV vaccine research, etc., and solved our doubts.

4、Communicating with people living with HIV and AIDS

Our team communicates online with HIV-infected patients from all over the country through online channels, joins the patient community, and has an in-depth understanding of the patients’ physical health status, treatment status, and mental health status after HIV infection, and Give them more help and care within your capabilities.

In communicating with HIV-infected and AIDS patients, we learned that many people do not know much about HIV testing methods, drug side effects, and daily care-related issues. They use online group chats among patients to share their experiences and help each other. In response to the clinical issues of HIV infection, we conducted an online interview with Chi Yun, director of the Public Infectious Diseases Department in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, to learn the principles and characteristics of HIV antibody, antigen, RNA/DNA, genotype and drug resistance detection methods; cocktail How to take the therapy; daily care after infection, ways to maintain your own immunity, etc.

5、Visit Beijing Red Ribbon House

After communicating with HIV-infected people, we realized that due to lack of relevant experience, it was far from enough to help them with our own strength. Therefore, we visited the Red Ribbon House in Beijing and learned about HIV infection from the office director Han Jing. Correct response measures after the virus, understanding the psychological process of infected people, and discussing together how we, as high school students, can help patients starting from ourselves. Director Han provided us with many valuable suggestions, allowing us to focus on young people and start from ourselves. To influence the people around you and join in AIDS prevention activities.

We have also connected friends from the "Yang Circle" community with Beijing Red Ribbon House to provide professional support and services to infected people and patients, and to provide their relatives and friends with AIDS care and prevention knowledge.

6、Visited Zhongguancun Biobank

Zhongguancun Biobank has established high-throughput genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and other research platforms based on the biobank. This visit gave us a new understanding of biomedicine.

7、Participate in the "Seminar on Gene\Cell Therapy under New Delivery Systems"

On August 10, 2023, we participated in the "Seminar on Gene\Cell Therapy under New Delivery Systems" held in Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing. At the meeting, we learned about the advantages of nucleic acid drugs over traditional drugs and the market prospects of mRNA drugs. As well as practical solutions for nucleic acid drugs, this provides scientific ideas for our team’s research plan on HIV virus nucleic acid integrase inhibitors and clarifies the importance of mRNA vaccines and drugs.