QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the pathogenesis of HIV

2. What are the beneficial and non-beneficial functions of the immune system
3. Write on some disease conditions attached to the imbalance of fluid in the body

ANSWERS

QUESTION 1: Discuss the pathogenesis of HIV

Pathogenesis is defined as the origination and development of a disease. Therefore,

pathogenesis of HIV is simply talking about the development of the diseases or events leading to
the disease.
HIV infection begins when HIV particle enters the body cell with a surface molecule called CD-4
also known as cluster designation 4 and they release their RNA into the host cell. It then
undergoes reverse transcription and converts its RNA into double stranded DNA. HIV DNA
(provirus) uses an enzyme to create its copies forming long protein chains. The new units then
force out ‘bud’ from the host cell and envelopes it, then the infected cells go out to infect the
other cells.
HIV has high specification for macrophages, microglia and dendritic cells. The outer membrane
viral protein gp-120 binds tightly with to CD-4 resulting in conformational changes, with
subsequent cell invasion facilitated by co-receptors such as CCR-B5 chemokine receptors. The
envelope of the virus and the cell membrane then fuse leading to entry of the virus into the cell.
The gp-14 is critical to the fusion process and drugs are being formulated to block this process.

HIV PATHOGENESIS PROCESS

QUESTION 2: What are the beneficial and non-beneficial functions of the immune
system.
ANSWERS