Family Friendly & Specialty Dentists in London, UK
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Transmission and Prevention of HIV
- HIV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, sharing contaminated needles, and from an infected mother to her infant during pregnancy, childbirth, or through breast milk.
- Condom use and practicing safe sex can reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
- HIV transmission is unlikely if the HIV-positive partner has a consistently undetectable viral load.
- It is important to use barrier methods, such as condoms, to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Impact on the Immune System and Development of AIDS
- HIV infects vital cells in the immune system, leading to low levels of CD4 T cells.
- As CD4 T cell numbers decline, the body becomes more susceptible to opportunistic infections and the development of AIDS.
- HIV can cause the death of infected cells, leading to a loss of cell-mediated immunity.
- The loss of cell-mediated immunity allows opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.
Structure and Genome of HIV
- HIV is a retrovirus with a roughly spherical structure and contains two copies of positive-sense single-stranded RNA.
- The RNA is tightly bound to nucleocapsid proteins and enzymes needed for virion development.
- The viral envelope surrounds the capsid and contains proteins from both the virus and the host cell.
- The envelope protein allows the virus to attach to target cells and initiate the infectious cycle.
HIV-1 and HIV-2
- HIV-1 is more virulent and infective than HIV-2, causing the majority of HIV infections globally.
- HIV-2 has a lower infectivity and is largely confined to West Africa.
- Both types of HIV can lead to the development of AIDS if left untreated.
Advances in HIV Research and Diagnosis
- Structural biology techniques have allowed the determination of the viral spike's molecular structure, leading to the development of promising vaccine candidates.
- Recombinant trimeric viral spikes known as SOSIP trimers reproduce the antigenic properties of the native viral spike.
- Understanding the structure and biology of HIV is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies and treatments.
- HIV testing involves initial screening with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies, followed by confirmatory testing with more specific supplemental tests.
