VIRUS RESEARCH

ASSIGNMENT
--------- HIV
What is HIV?

■ HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus

■ Scientific Classification:
Where it is commonly found/source in nature ?

■ Where is HIV located?

■ The virus resides in brain macrophages or microglial cells and astrocytes which may be

some of the longest living cells in the body. Here the virus can escape the immune
system and antiretrovirals. The persistence of HIV in the brain has important
consequences.

■ As of 2018, 38 million people are estimated infected with HIV globally.

The HIVpandemic is most severe in Southern Africa. Over 10% of all people infected
with HIV/AIDS reside within the region.
Description of its HIV-1 is composed of two copies of noncovalently linked,

Physical Appearance unspliced, positive-sense single-stranded RNA enclosed by

a conical capsid composed of the viral protein p24, typical
of lentiviruses. The RNA component is 9749 nucleotides
long and bears a 5' cap (Gppp), a 3' poly(A) tail, and many
open reading frames (ORFs). Viral structural proteins are
encoded by long ORFs, whereas smaller ORFs encode
regulators of the viral life cycle: attachment, membrane
fusion, replication, and assembly.
 Is it harmful or helpful to humans and/or animals? How?

■ HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. (The immune system fights infections and
diseases in a person's body.) Over time, HIV weakens a person's immune system so it has a
very hard time fighting diseases. HIV causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome). People with HIV can have it for many years before it develops into AIDS.
■ HIV is passed from person to person. This happens when a person with HIV gets his/her
blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk inside another person's body. There is no risk of
getting HIV from the person's urine, sweat, tears, saliva, or vomit unless there is also blood
in it.
■ When people first get infected with HIV, they may or may not feel sick. Some get flu-like
symptoms, they may get a fever, sore throat, swollen glands, or a skin rash. These symptoms
will go away without treatment, but HIV stays in their blood where it grows and begins to
destroy their immune system. People with HIV can have it for many years before their
immune system gets weak and other symptoms appear. After symptoms appear, people with
HIV will feel better with treatment. People with HIV may get sick more often and have
illnesses that are harder to treat than people who do not have HIV. Sometimes people with
HIV may get very sick.
Other Information: Treatment options for HIV

■ The treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART

involves taking a combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV
treatment regimen) every day. ART is recommended for everyone who
has HIV. ART can't cure HIV, but HIV medicines help people with HIV
live longer, healthier lives.
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