HIV AIDS
by noah
Symptoms
Causes
Body fluids that contain HIV and can infect someone if transmitted are
-semen
-vaginal fluids, including menstrual blood
-breast milk
-blood
-lining inside the anus
-Other body fluids, like saliva, sweat or urine, do not contain enough of the virus to infect -another person.
-The main ways the virus enters the bloodstream are:
-by injecting into the bloodstream (with a contaminated needle or injecting equipment)
-through the thin lining on or inside the anus and genitals
-through the thin lining of the mouth and eyes
-via cuts and sores in the skin
HIV is not passed on through:
-kissing
-spitting
-being bitten
-contact with unbroken, healthy skin
-being sneezed on
-sharing baths, towels or cutlery
-using the same toilets or swimming pools
-mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
-contact with animals or insects such as mosquitoes
Immune cells involved
HIV disrupts this process by directly infecting the helper T-cells. Your initial immune response does get rid of a great deal of HIV, but some of it manages to survive and infect these important cells. Once the infected helper T-cells are activated, they work to create new viruses instead of doing the job they are supposed to do in your immune system. In addition, many helper T-cells are destroyed in the HIV replication process.
How it replicates
Infects the CD4 lymphocytes[T-cells] and brain cells
Binding and Fusion-This is the process that HIV binds to a specific type of CD4 receptor and a co-receptor on the surface of the CD4 cell. which is similar to a key entering a lock. Once unlocked, HIV can fuse with the host cell (CD4 cell) and release its genetic material into the cell.
Reverse Transcription-A special enzyme called reverse transcriptase changes the genetic material of the virus, so it can be integrated into the host DNA.
Integration-The virus’ new genetic material enters the nucleus of the CD4 cell and uses an enzyme called integrase to integrate itself into your own genetic material, where it may “hide” and stay inactive for several years.
Transcription-When the host cell becomes activated, and the virus uses your own enzymes to create more of its genetic material along with a more specialized genetic material which allows it make longer proteins.
Assembly- A special enzyme called protease cuts the longer HIV proteins into individual proteins. When these come together with the virus’ genetic material, a new virus has been assembled.
Budding-This is the final stage of the virus’ life cycle. In this stage, the virus pushes itself out of the host cell, taking with it part of the membrane of the cell. This outer part covers the virus and contains all of the structures necessary to bind to a new CD4 cell and receptors and begin the process again.
Treatment
-Treated with a combination of medicines
- Take antiretroviral therapy(ART)
- ART involves many types of HIV medicines which are to be taken every day
- It prevents HIVs from replicating and reduces the risk of transmitting HIV to other people
Prevnetion
-Get tested and know your partner’s HIV status. Talk to your partner about HIV testing and get tested before you have sex.
-Have less risky sex. Oral sex is much less risky than anal or vaginal sex. Anal sex is the most risky type of sex for HIV transmission.
-Use condoms. Use a condom correctly every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Read this fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to use condoms correctly.
-Limit your number of sexual partners. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to have a partner with HIV whose HIV is not well controlled or to have a partner with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Both of these factors can increase the risk of HIV transmission. If you have more than one sexual partner, get tested for HIV regularly.
Get tested and treated for STDs. Insist that your partners get tested and treated too. Having an STD can increase your risk of becoming infected with HIV or spreading it to others.
Talk to your healthcare provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is an HIV prevention option for people who don’t have HIV but who are at high risk of becoming infected with HIV. PrEP involves taking a specific HIV medicine every day. PrEP should always be combined with other prevention options, such as condoms.
Don’t inject drugs. But if you do, use only sterile drug injection equipment and water and never share your equipment with others.