AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Where did AIDS come from?

HIV probably arose as a
human infection:

It has recently been estimated that

there are over 30 million people living
with HIV / AIDS in Sub-Saharan
Africa.

in western Central Africa

possibly in the 1930s
the virus jumped species
as a consequence of
transfer from primates
possibly due to eating or
slaughtering Chimpanzees
or Mangabey monkeys

The appearance of AIDS in the USA

In the early 1980s, people fell
ill with a new disease
Initially it appeared in the
homosexual male community
Before AIDS was coined, it
was known as GRID
Gay-Related Immune Deficiency

However, it later presented

itself in heroin addicts,
haemophiliacs and Haitians
Greenwich Village New York

The link was not initially clear!

The Virus and the Scientists

Several scientists were studying the
virus in the 1980s

Robert Gallo MD

Robert Gallo called the virus HTLV-III

Luc Montagnier called it LAV

Jay Levy called it ARV

In 1985 CDC in Atlanta classified it as:

LAV/HTLV-III-CDC-151

Eventually it was re-named in 1986

HIV : Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The Virus

the HIV viruses are lentiviruses,

(lenti meaning slow to produce
signs and symptoms)

they are also retroviruses

(they contain RNA not DNA)

they have an outer lipid envelope

which has glycoprotein units,
used in gaining entry into cells,
and two inner protein capsules

reverse transcriptase is an
enzyme which allows the virus to
form a double helix of DNA from
its RNA strands

How can the virus infect us?

The virus can enter the body via
infected body fluids:

during vaginal and rectal sex

drug-taking using infected needles

blood infection of wounds/needlestick

blood transfusion and blood products

The virus may also pass from mother
to child across the placenta during
pregnancy, and via breast milk
HIV cannot be contracted by touching
or hugging an AIDS sufferer

Signs and Symptoms

Pneumocystis carinii

Gum and mouth infections

Dramatic loss of weight

Kaposis sarcoma

Which cells does the virus target?

The virus infects and destroys cells
in the body

HIV infects T helper lymphocytes,

like the one opposite
these cells control the immune
system
as the number of T helper cells fall,
the body is unable to defend itself
opportunistic infections occur
AIDS therefore is not a disease in
the classical sense, it is:
an illness characterised by one or more
indicator illnesses

the virus also infects brain cells,

causing dementia, and attacks
macrophages

How can HIV be prevented?

AIDS is a true pandemic
However, its spread could be controlled:

Safe sex (using condoms and femidoms)

Avoid promiscuity (have one partner)
Dont share needles
Screen all blood, donors, and blood products
Extreme care when dealing with known AIDS
sufferers (e.g. needlestick injuries)
HIV testing of sexual contacts
The main aim of Health Agencies across the
world should be Education

The Future

The future looks

bleak in Africa

Anti-viral drugs like

AZT are very
expensive
Some drugs stop the
virus from changing
its RNA into DNA

AZT drug capsules as Art?

More research still

needs to be done

Governments must
take responsibility
for health education
programmes

AIDS: a truly global problem