On the Cover: This Science Editor cover features a watercolor and ink on paper illustration of “a cross section through an HIV virus particle (upper; red and purple) attaching to a host target cell (lower; blue and green) e.g. a CD4 T cell, a type of white blood cell found in the immune system.” The story of HIV/AIDS is devastating and hopeful: within most reader’s lifetime, HIV/AIDS went from a horrific, almost certain death sentence, to a manageable disease that is close to being cured. If, or when, that happens, it will likely be considered an historic triumph of science and public policy. Then, in May, the Trump administration ended an important program working on an HIV vaccine. Fortunately, other countries appear to be continuing this essential work.

Credit: HIV attachment, HIV viral life cycle, illustration. David S. Goodsell, The Scripps Research Institute. Source: Wellcome Collection. CC-BY.