About HIV

HIV is a type of retrovirus that destroys the immune system of a human. If the virus goes untreated, individuals generally develop AIDS and succumb to diseases that may otherwise be prevented. Easily transferable, HIV has spread across the planet since the early 1980s to pandemic levels. Today, various therapies exist to combat the virus, however, many poorer nations do not have the resources to procure the medicines.

Function

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus. It is a member of the retrovirus family known as a lentivirus. With a long incubation period, HIV alters the transcription of the genomes in RNA and DNA. It effectively reverts human cells to a earlier form in which they are susceptible to various minor ailments or diseases. HIV leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in which the human immune system fails, creating a situation in which an individual faces life-threatening ailments.

Features

HIV is transferred by contact between blood, breast milk, semen, pre-ejaculate or vaginal fluid. The virus operates as free particles or attached to infected cells. The main methods of transmission from one individual to another are unprotected sex, ingestion of breast milk, sharing needles or through a mother to child in birth. Most of these exposures can be easily minimized or eliminated through proper procedures. In addition, modern blood screenings has nearly eliminated the possibility of transmission through blood transfusion.

Significance

HIV, along with AIDS, was first recognized in 1981. The virus first located in Africa, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the economic rebirth of China, HIV has moved global. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 25 million people had died by 2005. Officially deemed a pandemic in 2006, nearly half a percent of all humans are infected with HIV. Africa has the largest population of infected individuals with nearly 90 million people, 18 million of which are children. This large percentage in Africa has retarded economic and social growth of the third world countries in the sub-Saharan regions due to increased poverty and mortality rates.

Effects

The vital cells attacked by HIV are the helper T cells of the immune system. These cells are responsible for the minimum function of the immune system. In addition, it attacks macrophages and dendritic cells, both operate as the immune system cells of tissues. HIV can directly kill infected cells usually through a system known as apoptosis in which the cell is slowly destroyed by creating a series of unfavorable biochemical conditions. Once the number of helper T cells and other cells declines, individuals develop AIDS.

Considerations

Many antiretroviral therapies have been developed since the discovery of the virus. These include various drugs that isolate the viruses and prevent them from attaching to or interfering with the function of cells. A variety of cocktails of these drugs have proven to help prevent the onset of AIDS, however, an infected individual will always carry HIV. Without these drugs, 90% of infected persons will develop AIDS within a decade. Once the onset of AIDS occurs, further treatment is necessary otherwise the individual will usually die within one year.
Because of the costs of these drugs, many developing countries with pandemic outbreaks of HIV do not have access to antiretroviral therapy. Organizations such as the Joint United Nations Program on HIV & AIDS raise money for drugs and awareness campaigns within these countries.

Resources

• CDC's HIV Page
• HIV Symptoms
• History of HIV & AIDS