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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Biology 11 Mr. McCallum

+HIV

Virus that attacks our immune system

Spreads through contact with bodily fluids

No cure exists

Treatment focused on keeping viral numbers (virion levels) low If left untreated will progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) due to death of immune cells

Projected to become the third leading cause of death globally by 2020

+Prevalence 2009 data

# of people living with HIV/AIDS

+Structure In addition to 1) the capsid and 2) the core containing genetic material, HIV has an additional covering referred to as an envelope

Spherical in shape

RNA virus

Virion = virus particle

Envelope proteins (glycoproteins) significantly important Anchors Development of vaccines

+AZT (azidothymidine)

Inhibits the life cycle of HIV Only active during DNA replication AZT is a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) Blocks reverse transcription

Developed as a way to prolong the lives of AIDS patients

Treatment aimed at DNA replication phase to limit the amount of virions in the patient’s system, prolonging their lives

+Key Concepts/Review What two components are viruses made up of? Can this change?

+Key Concepts/Review What characteristics of living things do viruses possess, which characteristics do they not possess?