HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention

By Dr.Sally Zeinatie
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
ORIGIN OF HIV
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
Besides HIV1 and HIV2, there is a related group of monkey lentiviruses (SIVs). Analyses suggest that there may be 3 subgroups: HIV1, HIV2, SIVmn (isolate from sooty mangabey monkey),SIVagm (isolate from African green monkey), SIVmand (isolate from mandrill monkey.
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
EPIDEMIOLOGY
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
HIV was introduced into the human population as recently as 1980. HIV infection has become a widespread pandemic. The WHO estimates that by year 2000, there will be 10 million cases of Aids and 20-40 million cases of HIV infection,90% of which will probably have occurred in developing world. 30 million people are now living with HIV.Nearly 6 million contracted the virus last year alone-some 16,000 everyday. Sub-saharn ..Africa.. has been the region most affected by Aids. Prevalence rates there exceed 40% for adults in some areas.
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
MORPHOLOGY
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
HIV is a retrovirus,which are a large group of RNA viruses.They are spherical, with a diameter of 65-150nm. They are divided into 3 families: Oncovirinae, Spumavirinae, Lentivirinae, to which HIV belongs.
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
The HIV1 proviral genome contains:
gag, pol, env genes which code for 55kDa, 66kDa, 160kDa, proteins respectively.The env gene codes for at least 6 proteins these include products of the following genes:
tat, rev, nef, vif, vpu, vpx, and VPR

MODES OF TRANSMISSION
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
Three major routes are:
sexual contact by 98%
Transmission by blood by 100%
Transmission through drug use by 100%
Transmission in health care settings by 0.3%
Perinatal transmission by 13-40%:
a) in utero by transplacental spread,
b) during birth through an infected birth canal
c) after birth by ingestion of milk by 14-29%
Effects of Infection

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
Detection of antibody:
A) Recombinant antigens and chemically synthesized peptides, gag and env is most recent.
B) SOLID PHASE Elisa’s are widely used.
C) competitive assays, are highly sensitive and specific.
D) agglutination assays, including particle and latex agglutination assays.
E) Western blot has advantage to individual viral proteins .
These tests diagnose HIV within 1-3 months of infection.

Detection of virus:
A) detection of HIV genomic RNA has recently emerged by test known as RDL.
B) peripheral blood leucocytes are stimulated in culture with phytohaemagglutination (PHA) and IL-2, often in co-cultivation with human umbilical cord lymphocytes.
C) Amplified reverse transcriptase (AMP-RT), which directly measures RT activity of virion.
D) detection of P24 antigen early in the course of HIV infection.

TREATMENT
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
A) The latest drug is T/20 TAKEN I.V, it prevents the HIV from entering into the cell, reducing the amount of HIV in these patients. Results show that the HIV have disappeared from 37% of Aids patients, after taking this drug for 24 weeks.
B) In the 2002 conference, held at Barcelona, it was found that whole foods rich in SELENOCYSTEINE, an amino acid chelating substance, that prevents Aids.
C) In the 2001 confernce,was found that VITAMIN A
is for immunity, and selenium helped increase CD4s from 910 to 1407.
D) Gene therapy with compounds that inhibit the regulatory genes of HIV and the use of antisense oligonucleotides are under investigation.
E) Therapies that target cellular structures or factors required to replicate HIV, such as anti-TNF ALFA, CYCLOSPORIN A and cellular transcriptional inhibitors.
F) In 1998, scientists found that INTERFERONS especially ALFA is useful in treatment of certain viral illnesses Aids.
G) There is an updated January 2002 medication includes:
1) ANTIVIRAL: Acyclovir, Famciclovir.
2) ANTI-RETROVIRAL: Abacavir, Didanosine,Stavudine, Dideoxycytidine, Zidovudine.
3) NON NUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS: Delavirdine, Efavirenz, Nevirapine.
4) PROTEASE INHIBITORS: Indinavir, Saquinavir,Lopinavir

PREVENTION
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
A) Doctors should wear gloves, goggles plastic coats.
B) Lab workers should be careful while handling the cultures or specimens.
C) Disposable syringes are to be used.
D) Equipment used by dentists should be autoclaved and sterilized.
E) Use of safer sex.
F) Screening of blood.
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
HIV is a RETRO virus,which are a large group of RNA viruses. They are spherical, with a diameter of 65-150nm. Lentivirinae is the family to which HIV belongs.HIV 1 proviral contains gag,pol,env genes. Major routes of transmission are sexual contact,transmission by blood and in health care settings.
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
Laboratory diagnosis is directed towards detection of the antibody and detection of the virus itself. Many treatment regimens are available.Latest being T/20 drug.Food rich in SELENOCYSTEINE prevents AIDS.Vitamin A and Selenium help increase CD4 and boost immunity. Antiviral and Antiretroviral drugs are also available.
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
In prevention,gloves should be worn,use of safer sex,screening of blood,disposable syringes to be used,equipments should be autoclaved and sterilized.
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
In conclusion, HIV deos not make people dangerous to know,so you can shake their hands,and give them a hug,heavens knows they need it.
HIV Virus Treatment & Prevention!
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