XIX International AIDS Conference. Lecture on SAMHD1 proteins by a scientist from the French vaccine research institute ANRS. The French Minister of Higher Education and Research holds a speech about the French-American collaboration in vaccine research.

This film tells the US story of the AIDS epidemic starting in the early 1980's. Scientists and activists, both pioneers and youths of today, talk about research, prevention, treatment and care. They also discuss stigma, homophobia and poverty as closely related to HIV and AIDS.

Marc Girard who is the general director of the Mérieux Foundation, talks about Cent Gardes and the collaboration between France and the USA, mainly represented by the Pasteur Institute and NIH, and about why HIV is such a complicated virus to find a vaccine for.