Nico Blaszyk Seminar Biology Topic 56 AIDS

HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS = Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

HIV is a retrovirus that infects and replicates in immune cells, marcophages and T helper cells. The
loss of CD4+ T-lymphocytes makes it difficult for the body to fight infections and certain cancers. The
B-Cell activation is prevented but activated B-cells are needed for antibody production. That is why
secondary infections can be fatal in patients with HIV.

Without treatment, HIV can gradually destroy the immune system and advance to AIDS.

General Facts Sub Saharan Africa >15% infected with HIV

90% of HIV transmission from heterosexual contact
~ 2.1 million deaths in 2007

How HIV is spread? Through contact with certain body fluids from an (HIV) infected person.
(blood, vaginal fluids, breast milk, semen, pre-seminal fluids,
rectal fluids)

Examples - Sharing injection drug equipment, such as needles, from someone

who has HIV. Mother to child transmission during breastfeeding, birth etc.
Via anal/vaginal intercourse with a HIV positive (detectable) person without
using a condom or taking medicine to prevent HIV.

Treatment Antiretroviral therapy (ART), the therapy even reduces transmission (HIV
undetectable in blood)

Some anti-HIV Drugs

Drug Type Mechanism

Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Blocks copying of viral RNA into DNA
Protease Inhibitor Blocks processing of viral proteins
Entry Inhibitor Blocks ability of HIV to bind, fuse with
and enter a cell
Nico Blaszyk Seminar Biology Topic 56 AIDS

Symptoms HIV infections - Within 2-4 weeks flu-like symptoms. These symptoms last for several
weeks or days. After that stage HIV continues multiplying at very low levels without
symptoms (latent/asymptomatic phase). In about 10 years without any treatment, it
will develop into AIDS with its specific symptoms.

Diagnosis AIDS Blood test (CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm^2) Specific symptoms.

HIV Blood test (antibody testing p24 antigen, PCR)

Oral test (NEW)

Structure of the HIV Virus

An infectious HIV particle consists of two RNA strands

within a protein core, surrounded by a lipid envelope
derived from infected host cells but containing viral
proteins.

Late in HIV infections

1 HIV mutates rapidly due to mistakes made

by reverse transcriptase ~1 in 5,000 base)
2 HIV variants occur that can bind receptors
or other immune cells and this induces
apoptosis.
3 Lack of immune cells severelz impairs
response to secondary infections and
cancers
Nico Blaszyk Seminar Biology Topic 56 AIDS

Types of HIV

HIV 1 – Most common throughout the world

HIV 2 – Found in West Central Africa, parts of Europe and India

Both produce the same patterns of illnesses. HIV2 is slower in progress than HIV1

Resistance to AIDS

Anti-HIV Entry Inhibitor Drugs

T20 & MCV

T20 interacts with glycoproteins on HIV envelope – blocks HIV from

entering CCCR5+ cells.

MVC interacts with the CCR5 receptor – blocks HIV from entering
CCR5+ cells

Mysteries

HIV levels can be dropped below detectable levels, but could come back in huge amounts because
reservoirs of HIV ‘’hide’’ from drugs.

SIV does not cause disease in Monkeys, HIV does not replicate after entering the cell. But why? The
cause is the TRIM5a protein in Monkeys stops HIV and SIV from replicating after entering the cell.
TRIM5a is not working in humans.
Nico Blaszyk Seminar Biology Topic 56 AIDS
Nico Blaszyk Seminar Biology Topic 56 AIDS

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Nico Blaszyk Seminar Biology Topic 56 AIDS