HIV/AIDS

Structure of virus:
- HIV is a retrovirus, meaning its genetic material is viral RNA, not DNA. Reverse transcriptase
converts this RNA into DNA once in the host cell to be incorporated into the human
chromosomes.
- Remember to learn the components of the diagram of the virus!

The virus invade and kill helper T cells (lymphocytes), which control the bodys immune
response.
- This weakens the immune system, leaving the individual susceptible to a range
opportunistic infections (AIDS).
- Remember that AIDS is not a disease, but a collection of opportunistic infections.
Transmission:
- HIV cannot survive outside of the human body. Therefore, it is transmitted by direct exchange
of bodily fluids.
- Groups at risk:
Male homosexuals: The initial epidemic in North America and Europe was amongst them
because they had many sex partners and practiced anal intercourse (the mucous lining of the
rectum, is not as thick as that of the vagina and there is less natural lubrication so the rectal
lining is easily damaged and the virus can pass from semen to blood).
Intravenous drug users: Sharing needles increases the risk of catching HIV.
Prostitutes

 Haemophiliacs: They need to be treated with a clotting factor (factor 8). This used to be
pooled from many blood donors. If the blood was not screened correctly HIV could be
transmitted.
AIDS (typical infections):
- Oral thrush can be caused by the fungus Candida albicans.
- A rare form of pneumonia is caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci.
- Kaposis sarcoma is a rare form of skin cancer caused by a herpes-like virus.
In regions where people are more vulnerable to diseases such as malnutrition and TB, HIV
has a greater impact (economically and health-wise).
Treatment:

- There is no vaccine because the virus changes the antigens on its surface (antigenic
variation) and most people with HIV develop AIDS later in life.
- The drugs used to treat HIV are expensive and have unpleasant side effects such as
headaches, rashes, diarrhoea (temporary), nerve damage, and abnormal fat distribution
(permanent).
- The drugs are similar to DNA nucleotides. Zidovudine is like the nucleotide thymine. It binds to
reverse transcriptase and stops the replication of viral genetic information, allowing the
number of lymphocytes to increase.
- People who do not follow their medication schedule become susceptible to resistant strains of
HIV.
Prevention:

- People can be educated on the importance of using condoms, femidoms, and dental dams as
they provide a barrier against the exchange of bodily fluids.
- Contact tracing: The person diagnosed with HIV should contact all their previous sexual
partners or people they have shared needles with and tell them to get tested (although it takes
a few weeks for the antibodies against HIV to appear in the blood).
- Injecting drug users should be advised to give up their habit, stop sharing needles, or take the
drug in another way.
- Needle-exchange programmes are another alternative.
- Blood from blood donors should be screened.
- People who know they are going to have an operation in places where blood screening is not
adequate can donate their own blood earlier on.
- Breast feeding should be discouraged as breast milk contains both infected lymphocytes and
viral particles. However, in less developed countries, breast feeding is encouraged especially
if a secure supply of drugs is present, as the protection that breast milk offers against other
diseases and the lack of clean water to make formula milk outweigh the risks of transmitting
HIV.