MICROBIOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT NO.3

Student Name. Nimra Ameen Student Reg.L1F19PHMD0138

Section. (C) Date. 26-1-2021

 Introduction:
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS stands for acquired immuno deficiency syndrome. HIV H-It
infects only human beings and also transmitted between humans not from animals. It is not transmitted from bites of
mosquitoes, bats or any other species. I-The body has immune system whose function is to protect our body from
germs, infections etc. But a person suffering from HIV has inability to fight against diseases. However, immune
system becomes deficient. V-Virus is a small, simplest thing which is in inactive form outside the body and becomes
active when it goes inside human body.

 AIDS
 A-It is not inherited means it cannot be transmit from one generation to another. It is transmitted to healthy
person by infected person.
 I-It weakens the immune system.
 D-Creates a deficiency of CD4+ cells in the immune system.
 S-It is a collection of diseases.

HIV is a virus that causes AIDS. Normally, our body has immune system that attack viruses and bacteria. Immune
system has white blood cells which protect us from infections. White blood cells contain CD4+ cells which is also
known as helper cells or T cells. A person who is infected will be able to develop. These infections take advantage of
body’s immune system. These infections cause several health problems and even lead to death of a person. HIV has
inability to protect against diseases and count of CD4 cells also decreases in HIV. There is no cure of AIDS but there
are certain medicines which are used to slow down the diseases so you stay healthier for long time. There is no
medicine to get rid of diseases.

 Structure of HIV Virus

  Gp120
The 120 in its name comes from its molecular weight. It is essential for virus entry into the cells as it plays
vital role in attachment to specific cell surface receptors.
 GP41
It is a subunit of the envelope protein complex of retroviruses including human immuno deficiencies virus. It
is family of enveloped viruses that replicate in host cell through process of reverse transcriptase. It targets a
host cell.
 Viral envelope
It is envelope through which virus binds.
 P17
Viral core is made from protein. It is bullet shaped. Three enzymes required for HIV replication are reverse
transcription, integrase and protease.
 P24
P24 is component of HIV capsid.
 Protease
It is a retroviral aspartyl protease that is essential for life cycle of HIV, the retrovirus that caused AIDS. This
enzyme cleaves newly synthesized polyproteins at appropriate place to create nature protein components of
infectious HIV virion.
 Integrase
Enzyme produce by retrovirus that enables its genetic material to be integrated into the DNA of infected cell.
RNA All organisms including most viruses store their genetic material on long strands of DNA. Retrovirus is
exception because their genes are composed of RNA.
 Causes
It is caused by sexual contact from one person to another person. HIV is a virus. When someone becomes infected
with HIV the virus weakens and damages their body’s defence system (the immune system) so that it cannot fight off
infections.

It is cause by:

1) Sharing drug needles or syringes.

2) Sexual contact including oral, vaginal or oral who is HIV positive.
3) Having other sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, herpes, and gonorrhea seems to increase
the risk of being infected by HIV during unprotected sexual contact with infected partner.
4) Babies can be infected by an HIV-positive mother during pregnancy, birth and breast feeding.
 Transmission
HIV is transmitted principally in three ways: By sexual contact, by blood through transfusion, blood products or
contaminated needles or by passage from mother to child. Although homosexual contact remains a major source of
HIV within the United States, “hetero sexual transmission is the most important means of HIV spread worldwide
today.” Treatment of blood products and donor screening has essentially eliminated the risk of HIV from
contaminated blood products in developed countries, but its spread continues among intravenous drug users who share
needles. In developing countries, contaminated blood and contaminated needles remain important means of infection.
Thirteen to thirty-five percent of pregnant women infected with HIV will pass the infection on to their babies;
transmission occurs before as well as during birth. Breast milk from infected mothers has been shown to contain high
levels of the virus also.

HIV is not spread by the fecal-oral route; aerosols; insects; or casual contact, such as sharing household items or
hugging. The risk to health care workers is primarily from direct inoculation by needle sticks. Although saliva can
contain small quantities of the virus, the virus cannot be spread by kissing.

HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another through:

 Blood (including menstrual blood)

 Semen
 Vaginal secretions
 Breast milk.
 Activities That Allow HIV Transmission
a) Unprotected sexual contact
b) Direct blood contact, including injection drug needles, blood transfusions, accidents in health care settings or
certain health care products.
c) Mother to baby (before or during birth)
 HIV is known to be transmitted only through:
 Contact of infected blood, semen, or vaginal and cervical secretions with mucous membranes.
 Injection of infected blood or blood products.
 Vertical transmission (that is, from infected mother to fetus) and from mother to infant via breast milk.

Contact of Sexual Fluids or Blood with Mucous Membranes:

The virus cannot pass through undamaged skin. HIV can enter the body through the mucous membranes that line the
vagina, rectum, urethra, and possibly, on rare occasions, the mouth. Damage to a mucous membrane may increase the
risk of transmission of HIV but is not necessary for transmission to occur.

Injection of Infected Blood: HIV can be transmitted by infected blood getting directly into the bloodstream through
intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection.

Blood-to-blood transmission occurs in the following ways:

1) Transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products and other blood recipients.
2) Sharing of unsterilized hypodermic needles and syringes.
 The risk of HIV Transmission is dependent on:
1) The concentration of HIV in the infected fluid.
2) The QUANTITY of fluid introduced into the body.
3) The ACCESS of the infected fluid to the t4 cells.
 Fluid with high concentration of HIV:
 Semen
 Blood and blood components
 Menstrual flow
 Vaginal secretions
  Pre ejaculatory fluid
 Breast milk.
 Fluids with LOW Concentration of HIV
 Pus
 Saliva
 Tears
 Urine
 Feces
 Vomiting
 Nasal mucosa.
 Symptoms
Many people who are living with HIV have no obvious signs and symptoms at all. Recent evidence shows that
between 70% to 90% of people who become infected with HIV experience flu-like symptoms within a few weeks
after infection.
The most common symptoms are a fever, a rash and a severe sore throat all occurring at the same time. These
symptoms in an otherwise healthy person may indicate recent HIV infection.
HIV infected patients may get yeast infections (oral or vaginal) that do not go away or that occur often.
Frequent and severe herpes infections that cause mouth, genital, or anal sores are also common.
Herpes zoster (shingles) is more likely to occur in infected patients.
Other pulmonary infections (pneumonia) or so called atypical mycobacterial infections can be serious for your loved
one.
Women may get pelvic inflammatory disease that does not respond to treatment.
The virus may attack the nervous system (nerves, spinal cord or brain) and produce a variety of symptoms ranging
from tingling in the feet and trouble walking to memory disturbances.
Following are the symptoms:

o large lymph nodes or "swollen glands" that may be enlarged

o for more than three months
o frequent fevers and sweats skin rashes or flaky skin that does not go away
o short-term memory loss
o slow growth or frequent illness in children
o cough and shortness of breath
o seizures and lack of coordination
o difficult or painful swallowing
o confusion and forgetfulness nausea, cramps diarrhea or vomiting that do not go away
o vision loss,
o Unexplained weight loss.

 Life Cycle of HIV AIDS

  Diagnosis
HIV is most commonly diagnosed by testing your blood or saliva for antibodies to the virus. Unfortunately it takes
time for your body to develop these antibodies-usually up to 12 week. A newer type of test that checks for HIV
antigen, a protein produced by the virus immediately after infection, can quickly confirm a diagnosis soon after
infection.

Following are the tests for detection of HIV AIDS:

o Home Test
A Food and Drug Administration-approved home test. To do the test, you swab fluid from your upper and lower
gums. If the test is positive, you need to see your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. If the test is negative, it needs to be
repeated in three months to confirm the results.
o Tests to Tailor Treatment
If you receive a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, several types of tests can be done.
These tests include:

1) CD4 count
CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that's specifically targeted and destroyed by HIV.
2) Viral load
This test measures the amount of virus in your blood. Studies have shown that people with higher viral loads generally
fare more poorly than do those with a lower viral load.