HIV : Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Dan McClain is a sheriff in Scott County Indiana who opposed needle exchange programs until there was a surge in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreaks that were directly influenced by the drug Opana. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linking a HIV outbreak to Opana usage within Scott County in Indiana causes the need for extreme attention to this prescription pill. In March of 2011 Scott County experienced eight new HIV cases, and just two months later that number had increased to 81 new cases, causing a significant concern for Dan McClain. He is sheriff within Scott County and wanted to know how he could quickly intercept the worst HIV outbreak Indiana had ever experienced. The untimely involvement of Opana’s in

HIV attacks the body’s immune system, by destroying CD4 cells also knows as T cells, that are a type of white blood cells that help the body immune system fight off infections. T cells have proteins that helps the HIV virus bind. If HIV is left untreated, it can reduce the numbers of infected CD4 cells in the body, making the person's more prone to infections ("CD4 Count, HIV, and AIDS: Test and Results -- What They Mean," n.d.). Over time, HIV can completely destroy these cells and the body can no longer fight off infectious disease. When the body begins losing its ability to fight infections and the CD4 cell

Introduction: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has become a global issue that has infected an estimated 35 million people living today1. The strain HIV-1 has been of experimental concern for years in hopes of a cure. This retrovirus directly infects the immune system by binding helper T-cells via the CD4 receptor. This allows for integration of the viral RNA into the T-cells, and causes the immune system to weaken by killing these immune cells. Advancements in research led to the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) for treatment, however this does not cure the patient of HIV but it suppresses the viral replication of HIV-1 to very low levels2.

Currently, 1.2 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, with the number of new HIV diagnoses declining by 19% from 2005 to 2014 (aids.gov). This decrease in diagnoses is due to the new medical advancements and scientific findings, specifically the discovery of nonprogessers, broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), and how these bNAbs can offer a new insight on HIV treatment and prevention.

Since its discovery in 1981, the scientific community has put up with the struggle of finding a vaccine for the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the root cause of AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Although numerous advancements in combating the virus have helped to reverse the epidemic, there is still no known cure. However, recent studies have shown some results that may possibly be the precursors to eradicate the disease. One example would be the trials of a possible vaccine conducted on primates at both Paris-Descartes University and at the University of Chinese Medicine in Guangzhou. Along with finding a vaccine, an alternative method has been proposed in Time Magazine with altering the CCR5 gene in cells, which is

Since the beginning of time, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been plaguing African American communities at an alarmingly higher rate than any other. The initial stereotype was that only homosexual, Caucasian men had this disease (which also helped contribute to the disease even further because blacks did not think that they had the possibility of contracting HIV). Poverty plays a huge role as well because those are the blacks most affected and since they are financially unable to afford proper, necessary treatment, they fall victim to this disease. Even though they may seem or look fine at one point in time, the virus can clearly take over their body once their CD4 cell count diminishes to less than 200 cells. This weakens the immune system and opportunistic infections now have the chance to invade the body and eventually kill the HIV (now AIDS) infected individual.

It is estimated that 34 million people are currently diagnosed with HIV (Bakhshaee, Sarvghad,, Khazaeni, Movahed, & Hoseinpour, 2014, para. 1). HIV consists of two strains, HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is more commonly seen world wide and can progress rapidly (Darby, 2015, 861). The slower progression is the HIV-2, most commonly seen in West Africa and is related to the sooty mangabey monkey (Darby, 2015, 861). HIV is a virus that prevents the body’s normal host response from activating to fight off illnesses that the body could normally fight off if the body was not compromised. Once the body experiences immunosuppression, the likelihood of death due to the disease is at a higher chance. HIV is called a

The first Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) showed up decades ago, as far as we know. However, there could have been many more infections over the years that were either recorded as unknown cases or got called with a different disease name. Nevertheless, humans have been trying to understand how this tricky virus work and what strategies they can use to prevent or cure the virus. Since it can mutate and adapts so quickly, finding a cure or an antivirus is a challenging task. Therefore, this paper will discuss some of the strategies that are being used to develop a vaccine against this virus, including: strategies that can be done before a person is infected, strategies for immediately after infection, and complete cures.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a fairly common diagnosis with an estimated 1.1 million people in the United stated who carry the infection and is predominantly seen in homosexual Caucasian and black males.1 Prognosis for individuals with HIV is vastly different and is dependent on many different variables. The Center for Disease and Control (CDC) has classified the HIV virus into 3 stages based on the symptoms and the pathological progression of the virus. The first stage of the virus lasts usually one to four weeks, which presents with similar symptoms of mononucleosis (2 p 367). Stage two of the virus roughly lasts about ten years, at which point the CD4+ t cell levels drop to around 1000 cells/microliter (2 p367). During the final stage, stage 3 occurs when the CD4+ T cells levels drop to 200 cells/microliter, and the person is now infected with AIDS and the progression of the infection may be very rapid (2 p367). Ultimately, the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a complex immune virus that is capable of destroying ones immune system, leaving their body defenseless.

HIV is Inevitable. It’s hard to believe that it has been 35 years since the first appearance of HIV in the US. It has claimed millions upon millions of people thus far. There is still a staggering number of people out there that are infected with this crippling disease. Everyone wants, wish, or even dream of a Cure, but a Vaccine could be a within reach in the near future. Through Money, Research and Development, we are sure to see a big changed in HIV by 2030. Predicted by Bills Gates (Business Insiders 2015). Understanding what we’ve learn from our past, and new ways on the developmental path for a vaccine; could be a game changer for a possible Vaccine for HIV yet to come. With our current statistic in front of us, we need to Act Now! This Movement & Progression for a vaccine could be a true reality.

Societies have been devastated by a number of epidemiological outbreaks, but few diseases have been as antagonistic as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The global transmission of this disease has been perpetuated by the ease of long distance travel and immigration (Magis-Rodriguez, 2004; Xu et al., 2014). Throughout the past 35 years the course of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as patterns of immigration, have changed immensely. Given the increase in both HIV and immigration, specifically in North Carolina (NC), this dissertation will focus mostly on changes, concerns, and strengths pertaining to the screening and treatment for HIV among Latino immigrants in NC. The

HIV infects CD4 + T cells. The viral particles of HIV keep their genetic information stored as double-stranded RNA. They use a reverse transcriptase that converts their genome into double-stranded DNA (Edina, Misawa, Kanemura, Koyanagi, 2013). During this process the virus can mutate quickly because many errors occur in the HIV genome. “The DNA is inserted into the host cell genome by integrases which use LTR (long terminal repeat) sequences on the viral genome to integrate with the host DNA” (Ebina, Misawa, Kanemura, Koyanagi, 2013). This results in a provirus that can continuously produce new viruses that infect other immune cells.

Since the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was discovered in 1983 by Francoise Barrè-Sinoussi and colleagues (reviewed by Weiss, 2013) an estimated 70 million people have been infected with this retrovirus (WHO, 2013). Of these, close to half have died of the clinical manifestation of the infection called AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Although tremendous progress has been made, including accurate testing of patients and donated blood, development of effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs, and viral load testing to track patient progress, the antigenic diversity of the viral coat has stymied the development of an effective vaccine (reviewed by Weiss, 2013).

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Also known as HIV leads to AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV attacks the T-cells in your immune system by using them to make copies of infected cells and destroying the original T-cell. There will soon be no active T-cells. The T-cells are important for your immune system because they help fight off infections and diseases. Without it your immune system is weak leaving you vulnerable to infections and diseases. According to Gustav Mark Gedatus in his book “HIV and AIDS,” a person without HIV has about 800-1200 T-cells for every cubic meter. As HIV keeps attacking T-cells the count decreases. When the count has become 200 or less, the disease is now AIDS.

Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) results in destruction of the body’s host defenses and immune system leading to the condition called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV-AIDS is one of the world’s greatest public health crises. For many years, because of lack of understanding and effective treatment, it is now considered a rapidly progressing fatal disease. HIV infection in humans is considered pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2003) reported that there are more than 20 million died from HIV-AIDS globally.