HIV and viruses

• What does HIV stand for?

  Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• What condition does HIV cause?

  AIDS
• What is the main effect of HIV on the immune system?

  It weakens the immune system
• What happens to helper T cells when infected by HIV?

  They are killed by the virus
• What is the typical time frame for HIV to develop into AIDS without treatment?

  About 10 years
• What is the latency period in HIV infection?

  Time with few or no symptoms
• What are the initial symptoms of AIDS?

  Minor infections of mucous membranes
• What serious infections can develop during late-stage AIDS?

  Toxoplasmosis and candidiasis
• How does the number of immune system cells change as AIDS progresses?

  It decreases significantly
• What factors affect the progression of HIV to AIDS?

  Healthcare access, HIV strain, age
• What is the structure of HIV described as?

  Complex structure
• What are the stages of HIV replication?

  1. Attachment to host cell
  2. Capsid release and uncoating
  3. Reverse transcription to DNA
  4. Insertion into host DNA
  5. Viral protein production
  6. Assembly of new viruses
• Why can't antibiotics be used against viruses?

  Viruses lack their own enzymes
• What do antiviral drugs target in viruses?

  Specific enzymes used for replication
• What is an example of a drug used to treat HIV?

  Reverse transcriptase inhibitors
• How can HIV be transmitted?

  Unprotected sex, sharing needles
• How can the risk of an HIV-positive mother transmitting the virus to her baby be reduced?

  By taking antiviral drugs during pregnancy
• What is the role of helper T cells in the immune response?

  They are the main defense against infection
• What happens to the viral load as HIV progresses?

  It can vary greatly
• What is the effect of the national drug program on AIDS?

  Delays onset by over 100 days
• What happens to the immune system as helper T cells decrease?

  It becomes weaker
• What type of infections do AIDS patients become susceptible to?

  Opportunistic infections
• What is the main cause of death in AIDS patients?

  Serious infections, not HIV itself
• How does HIV evade the immune response?

  By varying the structure of attachment proteins
• What is the role of reverse transcriptase in HIV replication?

  It makes DNA from RNA
• What is the significance of the capsid in HIV?

  It protects the viral genetic material
• What is the function of host cell enzymes in HIV replication?

  They make viral proteins from DNA
• What is the outcome of HIV infection on the body?

  Increased susceptibility to infections
• What is the relationship between viral load and T cell count?

  As viral load increases, T cells drop
• What is the role of macrophages in HIV infection?

  They are affected but less targeted
• What is the impact of age on HIV progression?

  It can affect survival time
• What is the significance of the immune response to HIV?

  It cannot completely destroy the virus
• What is the effect of HAART on HIV progression?

  It slows down progression to AIDS
• What is the role of B cells in HIV infection?

  They are less important targets
• What is the relationship between HIV and opportunistic pathogens?

  HIV makes the body vulnerable to them
• What is the role of the immune system in fighting HIV?

  It attempts to respond but fails
• What is the significance of the viral load in HIV infection?

  It indicates the severity of infection
• What is the impact of healthcare access on HIV progression?

  It can improve survival rates
• What is the effect of sharing needles on HIV transmission?

  It increases the risk of transmission
• What is the role of the immune response in HIV infection?

  It tries to fight the virus but is ineffective