Is Human Immune Deficiency Virus?

Kirton, C. (2007, April 2007). Nurses at the Forefront of a Pandemic: HIV/AIDS Nurses. National Student Nurse’s

CD4 is a glycoprotein found on the surface of immune cells such as T helper cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. HIV infects cells of the immune system called T lymphocytes (T cells) and macrophages. HIV has an envelope and contains two copies of single-stranded RNA as the genome. Within the viral capsid are important viral enzymes called reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. The HIV virus has a spike protein that is called gp120, and the host cell receptor is CD4+. HIV belongs to a class of viruses called retroviruses. Retroviruses are RNA viruses, and to replicate or reproduce, they must make a DNA copy of their RNA through transcription and translation. It is the DNA genes that allow the

AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a disease where a person regardless of race or gender can get infected and have no chance of survival. AIDS started in the 1980’s to move from human to human. In a event were sex kills this is the one. In 1995, AIDS was the leading cause of death for adults 25 to 44 years old. But in recent years treatments help the survival and prolonged life of many with AIDS yet the disease still resides within them and they are dangerous to the well being of

Nurses are the first health care professionals that patients meet in a health care setting. The nurses have a major impact on the patients. A condition like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has a major stigma with it. In the past, the stigma of HIV/AIDS was higher among people due to the cultural, social, and religious reasons. The AIDS certified registered nurses and other nurses can help reduce the stigma towards the patients. Organizations like the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC), promote the health and welfare of the people affected by this condition (Association of Nurses in AIDS care [ANAC], 2015). This global organization is, of nurses who are in the AIDS care and aim to study more about AIDS. They conduct community events such as promoting social awareness concerning issues related to HIV/AIDS. These nurses have the training to help the patients cope with and manage the different emotional and physical symptoms. They administer treatments to help the patient’s suffering through the different stages of this condition (Association of Nurses in AIDS care [ANAC], 2015). The Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) play a critical role in maximizing the effectiveness of the care team. Their care outcomes in the patients with HIV/AIDS are comparable to the patients managed by the physicians (HIV Medicine Association [HIVMA], 2014).

AIDS, which stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, has been a worldwide issue for many years. People of all ages have been affected by this syndrome, from newborns to young teens, all the way to adults going all the way through their seniority. Individuals with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome have had many obstacles to deal with. Some of which are problems not only having to do with their health, but also with the relationship that they have with the people around their community, family, and even with their self. It’s a battle that has taken many lives. This deficiency syndrome takes away one’s health mentally, emotionally, as well as physically. When an individual contracts aids, their immune system takes a huge toll and

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) puts its own genome directly into a host cell during the time of infection (Ebina et al, 2013). This can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) if it is left untreated. AIDS is caused by a retrovirus. HIV can remain dormant for years once its DNA is in the host cell (Fessenden, 2015). HIV infects

Few phenomena have changed the face of sexuality as dramatically as the appearance nearly 30 years ago of the microscopic virus known as HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV s the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS (CDC, 2013). AIDS is a medical condition that is named because HIV is acquired and subsequently affects the body’s immune system to the point where it often becomes deficient in combating disease causing organisms, resulting a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease or syndrome. The World Health Organization states that HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than

“Everyday the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to kill three times as many people than died during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001” (Elbe 2006, p.119). The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) weakens the immune system by destroying the cells that fight disease and infection. In the final stages of the HIV infection, it can lead to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Not all people who are diagnosed with HIV progress to acquiring AIDS, although once you have been diagnosed with the HIV infection, you have it for life. HIV/AIDS have claimed the lives of more than 39 million people globally since the discovery (World Health Organisation 2014) with a majority of these cases being in sub-Saharan Africa.

In order for the genetic material of the virus to integrate into the hots DNA, it must be changed by an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase16: an enzyme called integrase is then activated as the virus new genetic material enters into the nucleus of the CD4 cells, then acts to integrate itself into the genetic material of the host cell16 and when the host cell becomes active it then uses the host machinery to generate or replicate more of its genetic material thus creating a much longer protein1, 16, 17; a protease then acts to cut the HIV protein into individual proteins. Viral assembly then takes place16, 17, the virus will then bud and then be released into the blood stream where it will go on and attack the CD4 cells and the process will take place again16. Therefore individual infected with HIV becomes HIV positive and will always be HIV

Nurse K, has been assigned to provide care for Mr. Griffith since his admission, although they have been advances in HIV prevention, findings prove that outdated materials regarding the need for extreme precautions, creates incidences where nurses are reluctant in caring for persons with HIV (Wagner, McShane, Hart, & Margolese, 2016). Nurse K decides to speak with the nurse manager in order to be reassigned, as she believes that she is incapable of maintaining isolation

Once an entry is initiated and completed, HIV has the ability to replicate into thousands of copies of itself by using the host cells resources and the RNA. The RNA, which is two stranded, converts into DNA through an enzyme titled reverse transcriptase. When the DNA is set within the host’s genome, it allows replication to occur. Furthermore, the new viral copies are made and the host cell ruptures and dies. As a result, the multiple viruses are released and continue to infect more of the T cells, weakening the immune system. The normal count of T cells is about 800-1200 cells/mm3. For a while, T cells can be initially replaced, but HIV infection is a slowly progressive disease and soon enough the body becomes exhausted, leading to a decline in T-cell count. There are several prevention measures that can be taken in order to avoid getting HIV. Those include

The HIV Pandemic: The ongoing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic has and continues to devastate many individuals across the globe, leaving children orphaned, families fractured, and local economies disrupted. The first known and confirmed case of HIV infection dates back to 1959 [1], however AIDS-related pathologies were not recognized as interrelated outcomes from the same disease until 1981 when clusters of young, homosexual men in New York City and Los Angeles began presenting with Pneumocystis pneumonia and Kaposi’s sarcoma [2,3], illnesses most often associated with compromised immunity. The causative agent of this immunodeficiency, initially known as Human T-Lymphotropic Virus, type III, now known as HIV, was first discovered in 1983 by French and American scientists [4,5]. Since this discovery, an estimated 39 million people have died from HIV/AIDS, and over 35 million people are living with HIV today with an estimated 2.1 million new infections believed to occur each year based on the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) [6]. Sub-Saharan Africa represents the most heavily burdened region with women disproportionately affected; accounting for 58% of HIV infected individuals. Furthermore, young women, aged 15-24 from this area represented 60% of all newly infected individuals in 2013 [7]. Young women therefore represent a unique group at high risk for acquiring HIV, and reasons for this increased susceptibility require further

The virus which is responsible for the disease of AIDS or the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is named as HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is one of the members of viruses called the retrovirus. Explain this later These viruses are capable of duplicating the RNA into DNA.The virus has two exact copies of single-stranded RNA as the basic genome in the very center of the organism. The genome is surrounded by a membrane that is made of membrane-bound proteins and lipids. One of the membrane-bound proteins is called the T-cells which help the virus becoming physically attached. When it became attached, the virus that is brought inside by the T-cell could result for the internal core to become exposed and damaged. Then the enzyme attached to the RNA, starts to make a base-pair single-strand copy of the RNA into DNA. The single strand of DNA is also duplicated by the same enzyme to form double-stranded DNA. This DNA enters one of the 46 chromosomes within our cells and used it as pattern to produce new virus particles. These new virus particles can be released from the infected cell and infect the adjacent cells.) HIV can hide for a very long period of time in the cells of the body and attacks the main part of the immune system – the T-cells or the CD4 cells. HIV cannot enter unbroken skin. HIV can be transmitted through direct exchange of body fluids. Sexual intercourse is the most common form of HIV transmission. Blood to blood contact, such as sharing needles for

HIV is a retrovirus and it differs from normal RNA viruses because they contain an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase. This enzyme transcribes an RNA template into DNA, opposite of what normally occurs in a replication cycle (Reece et al., 2014). There is viral DNA produced through this method; which then invades the nucleus of the cell and combines itself into the DNA of a chromosome. This differs from the typical process, as it is a multistep process; contrary to the single step mechanism of incorporating mRNA into host cells to produce viral proteins (MCRH). HIV is a retrovirus and has a much more complex viral replication, compared to the

An enzyme in HIV called reverse transcriptase is necessary to catalyze this conversion of viral RNA into DNA. Once the genetic material of HIV has been changed into DNA, this viral DNA enters the host cell nucleus where it can be integrated into the genetic material of the cell. The enzyme integrase catalyzes this process, once the viral DNA is integrated into the genetic material of the host: it is possibe that HIV may persist in a latent state for many years. Activation of the host cells results in the transcription of viral DNA into messenger (mRNA), which is then translated into viral proteins.