• The Immune system is a series of cells, chemicals and

barriers that protect the body from invasion by pathogens.

Some of the weapons are active, some are passive, some
are inborn, and others are acquired, together they form a
system that is remarkably good at keeping the body free
of infection

IMMUNE
SYSTEM
• Your Immune system is your body’s defense against
infections and other harmful invaders. Without it you
would constantly get sick from germs such as bacteria
and viruses, one example of an immune system disorder
is HIV/AIDS

IMMUNE SYSTEM
DISORDERS
• Refers to the most advanced stage of HIV Infection. HIV (Human
immunodeficiency virus) which causes AIDS is an acquired viral
infection that destroys important white blood cells and weakens the
immune system. People with HIV/AIDS can become seriously ill with
infections that most people can fight off. These infections are called
“opportunistic infections” because they take advantage of weak immune
systems. HIV cannot replicate themselves so in order to make new
copies of itself, it infects cells of the immune system called CD4 cells.
CD4 cells are white blood cells that play an important role in responding
to infections in the body. Overtime CD4 cells are killed by HIV and the
body’s ability to recognize and fight certain type of infections begins to
decline, the loss of CD4 cells leads to development of serious illness.

HIV/AIDS (acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome)
CD4 Cells
• HIV is called a Retrovirus because it works in back to front
way. Retroviruses store their genetic information using RNA
instead of DNA, meaning they need to make DNA when they
enter a human cell in order to make new copies of
themselves. HIV’s RNA is made up of nine genes which
contain all the instructions to make new viruses. Three of
these genes provide instruction to make new proteins that will
form new virus particles. The other six genes provide code to
make proteins that control the ability of HIV to infect cells,
produce new copies of the virus or release viruses from
infected cells

STRUCTURE OF HIV
• It is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
you can get HIV from contact with infected blood, semen
or vaginal fluids. Most people get the virus by having
unprotected sex with someone who has HIV. Another
common way of getting it is by sharing drug needles with
someone who is infected with HIV.

AIDS Etiology and

Pathogenicity
• ASYMPTOMATIC STAGE People infected with HIV continue to look and feel
completely well for long periods, sometimes for many years. During this time the virus
is replicating and slowly destroying the immune system. The asymptomatic stage is
sometimes called as clinical latency. This means that although a person looks and feels
healthy, they can infect other people through any body fluid contact such as
unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or through needle sharing.
• SYMPTOMATIC STAGE this occurs when clinical manifestations appear, including
nausea, vomiting, cold and flu like symptoms, weight loss, malaise and general
infections. Because these symptoms occur with many other illness patients don’t
recognize them as unique to HIV infection and often do not get screened, tested,
diagnosed or treated. Clinical symptoms appear as the body’s immune system can no
longer respond effectively to other pathogens because HIV has taken over the CD4
lymphocytes
• CD4 LYMPHOCYTES (cluster of differentiation 4) is a glycoprotein that serves as co-
receptor for the tcell receptor. CD4 is found on the surface of the immune cells such as
t-helper cells, monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells.

SYMPTOMS
• Fever
• Chills
• Headaches
• Night sweats
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches and pains
• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes usually on the neck
• Mouth ulcer

COMMON SYMPTOMS
 • ELISA Test (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) It is used to detect HIV
antibody. It checks for certain proteins that the body makes in response to HIV.
The blood samples are added to a cassette that contains the viral protein called
the antigen. This test is usually the first one used to detect infection with HIV. If
antibodies to HIV are present (positive), the test is usually repeated to confirm
the diagnosis, if ELISA is negative another test is not usually needed. This test
has a low chance of having a false result after the first few weeks that a person is
infected.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) This test finds either RNA of the HIV virus or
the HIV DNA in white blood cells infected with the virus. PCR testing is not
done as frequently as antibody testing because it requires technical skills and
expensive equipment. This test may be done in the days or weeks after exposure
to the virus. Genetic material maybe found even if another test is negative for the
virus. The PCR test is very useful to find very recent infection, determine if an
HIV infection is present when antibody test results were uncertain, and screen
blood or organs for HIV before donation

DISEASE DIAGNOSIS and PROGNOSIS

• Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) This test detects HIV
antibodies using a special fluorescent dye and a microscope.
This test may be used to confirm the results of an ELISA test.
• Simple or Rapid assays This test does not require sophisticated
equipment to perform and can be used in the laboratory or at
the point of care (POC) to screen HIV antibodies. If HIV
antibodies or antigens are not found, the test maybe repeated in
a few months. Without treatment HIV infection progresses to
AIDS in approximately 10 years, with death following within
3 years after onset of AIDS. With appropriate treatment, a 20-
year-old with HIV infection can expect to live to reach 71
years of age
• There is a new treatment approved by the FDA called CABENUVA
(cabotegravir-extendedrelease injection; rilpivirine-extended-release injection)
co packaged for intramuscular use, this is the first FDA-approved injectable,
complete regimen for HIV-1 infected adults that is administered once a month.
FDA also approved VOCABRIA (cabotegravir) 30 mg tablets which should be
taken in combination with oral rilpivrine (endurant) for one month prior to
starting treatment with cabenuva to ensure the medications are well tolerated
before switching to the extended-release injectable formulation. Cabuneva, a
two drug co-packaged product of cabotegravir a human immunodeficiency
virus type-1 (HIV-1) integrase strand transfer inhibitor, is indicated as a
complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults to replace the
current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically supressed (HIV-1
RNA less than 50 copies per ml) on a stable antiretroviral regimen who no
history of treatment failure and with no known resistance to either cabotegravir
or rilpivirine

NEW TREATMENT