HIV & AIDS - signs, symptoms, transmission, causes & pathology

Osmosis from Elsevier・2 minutes read

HIV targets immune system cells causing AIDS, with HIV-1 being more common globally, and HIV-2 mainly in western Africa and southern Asia. The virus attaches to CD4 cells via gp120, utilizing either CXCR4 or CCR5 co-receptor to enter cells, mutations in CCR5 can lead to resistance to HIV.

Insights

  • Mutations in CCR5 can confer resistance to HIV, potentially slowing down disease progression by hindering the virus's ability to enter cells.
  • HIV infection progresses through distinct phases, starting with acute symptoms resembling the flu after exposure through sexual intercourse, followed by a chronic phase lasting several years, during which the virus replicates and mutates within the host's DNA, leading to diverse strains and potential complications.

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Recent questions

  • What is HIV?

    A virus targeting immune cells causing AIDS.

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Summary

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Understanding HIV: Types, Transmission, and Progression

  • HIV targets cells in the immune system, leading to immunodeficiency and increased risk of infections and tumors, known as AIDS.
  • There are two types of HIV: HIV-1, more common worldwide, and HIV-2, rare and mainly in western Africa and southern Asia.
  • HIV targets CD4+ cells with the CD4 molecule, crucial for immune cell communication and attachment.
  • HIV attaches to CD4 via gp120 and then to a co-receptor, either CXCR4 or CCR5, to enter cells.
  • Mutations in CCR5 can lead to resistance to HIV, slowing disease progression.
  • HIV is a retrovirus that integrates into host DNA, replicating and mutating, leading to different strains.
  • HIV enters the body through sexual intercourse, causing acute infection with flu-like symptoms, followed by a chronic phase lasting 2-10 years.
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