ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL, SUKNA

BIOLOGY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

AIDS-
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

NAME: Sharad Chaudhary

CLASS/SEC: XII B1

BOARD ROLLNO:

SESSION: 2022-2023
 AIDS:
Acquired Immuno
Deficiency
Syndrome

AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or immuno-deficiency syndrome) is a

syndrome caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus). The illness
alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and
diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the syndrome progresses.

HIV is found in the body of an

infected person (semen and vaginal

fluids, blood and breast milk). The

virus is passed from one person to

another through blood-to-blood and

sexual contact. In addition, infected

pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, delivering the baby
during childbirth, and through breast feeding.

HIV can be transmitted in many ways such as vaginal, oral sex, anal sex, blood
transfusion, and contaminated hypodermic needles.
 “The red ribbon is the worldwide symbol of support and
awareness for people living with HIV”.

Both virus and the syndrome are often referred to together as HIV/AIDS. People with
HIV have what is called HIV have what is called HIV infection. As a result, some will
then develop AIDS.

The development of numerous opportunistic infections in an AIDS patient can

ultimately lead to death.

According to research, the origins of HIV date back to the late nineteenth or early
twentieth century in west-central Africa. AIDs and its cause, HIV, were early 1980s.

There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDs.

Treatments can slow the course of the

condition- some infected people can live

a long and relatively healthy life.

 HIV is the virus which attacks the

T-cells in the immune system.

 AIDS is the syndrome which appears

in advanced stages of HIV infection.

 HIV is a virus.

 AIDS is a medical condition.

 HIV infection causes AIDS to develop.
However, it is possible to be infected with
HIV without developing AIDS. Without
treatment, the HIV infection is allowed to
progress and eventually it will develop into
AIDS in the vast majority of cases.

HIV testing can identify infection in the

early stages. This allows the patient to use
prophylactic (preventive) drugs which will
slow the rate at which virus replicating,
delaying into the onset of AIDS.

AIDS patients still have the HIV virus and are still infectious. Someone with AIDS can
pass HIV to someone else.

Causes of HIV/ AIDS

HIV is a retrovirus that infects the vital organs of the human immune
system. The virus progresses in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. The
rate of virus progression varies widely between individuals and depends on
many factors (age of patient, body’s ability to defend against HIV, access to
health care, existence of coexisting infections, the infected person’s genetic
inheritance, resistance to certain strains of HIV).
Symptoms of early HIV infection
Many people with HIV have no symptoms for several years. Others may
develop symptoms to flu, usually two to six weeks after catching the virus.
The symptoms can last up to four weeks.
Symptoms of early HIV infection may include:

 Fever

 Chills

 Joint pain

 Muscle ache

 Sore throat

 Sweats (particularly at night)

 Enlarged glands

 A red rash

 Tiredness

 Weakness

 Weight loss

Asymptomatic HIV infection

In many cases, after the initial symptoms disappear, there will not be any
further symptoms for many years. During this time, the virus carries on
developing and damages the immune system. This process can take up to 10
years. The infected person will experience no symptoms, feel well and
appear healthy.
Some cancers, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma, invasive cervical cancer, lung
cancer, rectal carcinomas, hepatocellular carcinomas, head and neck
cancers, cancers of the immune system known as lymphomas.

 Toxoplasmosis (a disease caused by a parasite that infects the brain. It

can also cause disease in the eyes and lungs).

 Tuberculosis

 Life threatening illnesses may be controlled and treated with proper

HIV- treatment.

Diagnosis of HIV/ AIDS

A 2011 report issued by the CDC
(Centers for Disease control and
prevention), USA, found that about
1 in every 5 HIV-positive
Americans is unaware of their
HIV- status, and only 49% of those
who are aware receive ongoing
medical care and treatment.

Blood Test
Diagnosis is made through a blood test that screens specifically for the virus.
If the HIV virus has been found, the test result is “positive”. The blood is re-
tested several times before a positive result is given to the patient.
For those whose tests came positive, they will be asked to undergo some
other tests to see how the infection has progressed, and also to decide when
to start treatment.
If the person has been exposed to
the Virus, it is crucial that they get
tested as soon as possible. The
earlier HIV is detected, the more
likely the treatment will be
successful. Also, precautions can be
taken to prevent the virus from
spreading to other people.

ELISA Test?
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, also called ELISA or EIA, is a test
that detects and measures antibodies in your blood. This test can be used to
determine if you have antibodies related to certain infectious conditions.
Antibodies are proteins that your body produces in response to harmful
substances called antigens. An ELISA test may be used to diagnose:

 HIV, which causes AIDS

 Lyme disease

 Pernicious anemia

 Rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF)

 Rotavirus, squamous cell carcinoma, syphilis, toxoplasmosis,

varicella- zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles. ELISA
is often used more in-depth tests are ordered. A doctor may suggest
 this test if you are having signs or symptoms of the conditions above
or your doctor wants to rule out any of these conditions.

How the test is performed?

The ELISA test is simple and straightforward. You’ll probably need to sign
a consent form, and your doctor should explain the reason for doing the
test.

The ELISA test involves taking a sample of your blood. First, a healthcare
provider will cleanse your arm with an antiseptic. Then, a tourniquet, or
band, will be applied around your arm to create pressure and cause your
veins to swell with blood. Next, a needle will be placed in one of your veins
to draw a small sample of blood. When enough blood has been collected,
the needle will be removed and a small bandage will be placed on your arm
where the needle was. You’ll be asked to elevate your arm and place
pressure on it with gauze to reduce blood flow.

This procedure should be relatively painless, but your arm may throb a
little after the procedure.
The blood sample will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. In the lab, a
technician adds the sample to a Petri dish containing the specific antigen
related to the condition for which you are being tested. If your blood
contains antibodies to the antigen, the two will bind together. The
technician will check this by adding an enzyme to the Petri dish and
observing how your blood and the antigen react. You may have the
condition if the contents of the dish change colour. How much change the
enzyme causes allows the technician to determine the presence and
amount of antibody.

Ultra- sensitive HIV sensor

Scientists from Imperial College London reported in Nature
nanotechnology (October 2012 issue) that they have developed an
extremely sensitive sensor that detects viral infections, including HIV.
They say the sensor is ten times more sensitive at detecting an HIV
biomarker that anything else on the market today; it is also extremely
cheap. The doctor can see the results by looking at the colour change in a
liquid solution.
 Recent developments on
HIV
Genetic changes identified that make HIV elusive to drugs.
The team used a new form of technology that can detect infection early on
and track the body’s immune system.

Recent developments in HIV

treatment
New drugs reawaken latent HIV to eradicate virus
A new study suggests a class of drugs already being tested in clinic trails for
the treatment of cancer may also hold the key to complete eradication of
HIV.
Alcoholism drug could help cure HIV, study finds
A drug used to treat alcoholism called disulfiram could bring us closer to
cure for HIV, according to the results for a new study led by researchers
from the University of Melbourne in Australia.
HIV vaccine possibility following study of ‘antibodies with loops’

A new study suggests it may be possible to induce a rapid anti- HIV immune
response in unexposed people by developing a vaccine that triggers
antibodies containing loop-like structures.
HIV antibody therapy looks promising.
A new study of the effects of a new antibody treatment suggests it may offer
a long-term solution for the control of HIV.

HIV Prevention
To prevent being infected with
HIV, healthcare professional’s
advice related to:

1. Unprotected Sex,
having sex without a
condom can put a person at
risk of being infected with
HIV and other sexually
transmitted infections (STIs). HIV can be spread by having
unprotected sex (vaginal, oral and sex). It can also be caught from
sharing sex toys with someone infected with HIV.