HIV virus
By: Tari Santosa
HIV virus
SYMPTOMS
Some symptoms include:
- Chills
- Rash
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Mouth ulcers
causes
Several causes include:
- Unprotected in of any fashion [most common cause]
- Sharing needles
- Through some body fluids eg. blood
Immune Cells Involved
When one gets infected with HIVs, the virus attacks the T-Cells and the brain cells. After several years of this attack, the T-cells are effectively weakened and one's immune system will be weak. One will not be able to fight of viruses and sicknesses if their immune system is weakened.
How HIV Replicates
The HIV virus undergoes the lysogenic cycle.
1. The virus binds itself to a lymphocyte, otherwise known as a T-cell or brain cell, similar to a key entering a lock. When virus and host are bound, it injects its genetic material into the cell.
2. An enzyme called reverse transcriptase changes the virus's genetic material so it can be integrated into the host cell's DNA.
3. The virus's changed genetic material then integrates into the cell's DNA using an enzyme called integrase. When integrated, it may stay hidden for many years.
4. Another enzyme called protease makes the virus's manufactured proteins longer and when these proteins come together with the virus's genetic material, to construct another virus.
5. The virus then pushes itself out of the cell, taking some of the cell's membrane with it so it can successfully integrate with other cells.
Treatment
The treatment to HIV includes a combination of prescribed medicines.
It is called antiretroviral therapy, otherwise known as ART.
ART prevents HIV from replicating, which helps the T-cells and boosts one's immune system. It also helps to prevent the spreading of HIVs to other people.
prevention
One can prevent HIVs by having protected sex and not injecting drugs. One can also use condoms while having sex and to check you/your partner's STD status.