Principles of Microbiology

Pathogenic Microbe Project

HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus

PREPARED BY:
Tifane Visitacion
Renato Reyes
Nina Salvacion

December 8, 2005
Professor Rola Bekdash

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

(HIV)

The virus that causes AIDS

First exposed in 1981 in central Africa, infection
unknown
Has killed more than 20 million people
With 3.1 million people dying last year alone.
Estimated 45 million people that we know of are
currently living with HIV

Characteristics:
Virion spherical in shape
Genomic RNA
Reverse transcriptase
Lipid envelope
Envelope
Lipid membrane
gp120
gp41
Core
RNA
Reverse transcriptase, Integrase and Protease

HIV Cycle

Viral Entry

HIV binds to cell

Fuses with cell and injects its core

Viral Tranfer

gp120 with CD4

Reverse transcriptase makes single-strand DNA copy of viral

RNA
DNA polymerase makes second DNA copy.
Integrates into cellular DNA (integrase)
Translation of RNA into viral proteins
Protease cleaves viral enzymes
Proteins and RNA are assembled into new virions

Viral Exit

Virus buds from cell surface

HIV cycle

Clinical Symptoms

Phase I - Asymptomatic
phase

Phase II Symptomatic

CD4 count >500 cells per

microliter of blood
Flu like symptoms
CD4 count around 200
cells per microliter of blood
Weight loss, fatigue,
diarrhea, infections, etc.

Phase Late
Symptomatic

CD4 count <200 cells per

microliter of blood
Full blown AIDS

Diagnosis

Detect antibodies, antigens, or viral

nucleic acids (RNA/DNA)

CD4 counts

Blood screening

ELISA, Western Blot and PCR

OraQuick Advance

Detect antibodies in a persons saliva

Mode of Transmission
Sexual contact

Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Sharing of needles

Blood transfusions

How is it treated?

Suppress viral load

Restore or preserve immune function
Improve quality of life
Reduce occurrence of opportunistic
infections and mortality

Treatment

No cure, continuously mutates

Highly Active Antiretrovial Therapy

(HAART)
Fusion Inhibitor
Nucleoside Analogs
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Protease Inhibitors

HAART
Fusion

Inhibitors
Work by preventing HIV from
entering healthy T-cells in the body
This drug targets the gp41 protein on
HIV's surface.

Nucleotide

Analogs
Inhibit production or activity of
disease-causing proteins.

HAART
Reverse

Transcriptase Inhibitors
(RTI) Nucleotide (NRTI)
Non-nucleotide (NNRTI)

Protease

Inhibitors
Prevents maturation of virions capable
of infecting other cells.

Six months after using antiretroviral therapy

Prevention

Sharing of needles

Knowledge is power

Exposures to infected blood

Safe sex practices

Public Awareness

Education
Health education
programs
Reduce stigma and
discrimination

Safe sex campaigns

Proper use of
condom

HIV Centers

Homeland security
For Americans to feel truly secure in our
homeland, our government must address
the significant risks to our well-being.
Eliminating HIV is homeland security.
We must work to rebuild a strong AIDS
movement and demonstrate broad public
support.