HIV & monoclonal antibodies

• Why are viruses hard to treat with medicine?

  They replicate inside host cells
• Why won't antibiotics destroy viral cells?

  They target bacterial mechanisms, not viruses
• What are the main components of a virus's structure?

  Protein envelope, capsid, genetic material
• What type of genetic material does HIV have?

  RNA
• What is the role of reverse transcriptase in HIV?

  It converts viral RNA into DNA
• What is the outer protein coat of HIV called?

  Capsid
• How does HIV attach to helper T cells?

  Through protein attachments to CD4 proteins
• What happens when HIV fuses with a helper T cell's membrane?

  RNA and reverse transcriptase are released
• What does reverse transcriptase do after entering the helper T cell?

  It turns viral RNA into DNA
• What is the consequence of HIV replicating inside helper T cells?

  Destruction of helper T cells occurs
• What are the initial symptoms of HIV infection?

  Flu-like symptoms, fever, rash
• What does being HIV positive indicate?

  Presence of HIV virus in the body
• What leads to the classification of AIDS?

  Severe destruction of helper T cells
• Why are individuals with AIDS vulnerable to infections?

  They cannot produce an adequate immune response
• How does the destruction of helper T cells affect the immune system?

  It impairs the body's ability to fight infections
• What are the key structural components of HIV?

  • Core made of RNA
  • Enzyme reverse transcriptase
  • Protein capsid
  • Envelope from host cell membrane
  • Protein attachments for cell binding
• What is the replication process of HIV inside a host cell?

  1. HIV attaches to CD4 protein on helper T cell
  2. Membranes fuse, releasing RNA and reverse transcriptase
  3. Reverse transcriptase converts RNA to DNA
  4. DNA enters the nucleus and replicates
  5. New HIV particles are produced, destroying helper T cells
• What are the symptoms of HIV and AIDS?

  • HIV: flu-like symptoms, fever, rash
  • AIDS: severe immune dysfunction, vulnerability to infections and cancer
• What is the difference between being HIV positive and having AIDS?

  • HIV positive: presence of HIV virus
  • AIDS: significant destruction of helper T cells affecting immune function
• Why are antibiotics ineffective against viruses like HIV?

  • Antibiotics target bacterial mechanisms
  • Viruses lack the structures antibiotics attack
• What are monoclonal antibodies?

  Antibodies created to be identical and specific
• What does "mono" in monoclonal antibodies mean?

  One
• What does "clonal" in monoclonal antibodies refer to?

  Identical
• How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

  They can be created in the lab
• What are the uses of monoclonal antibodies?

  • Medical treatment (drugs)
  • Medical diagnosis
  • Pregnancy tests
• What is direct monoclonal antibody therapy used for?

  Treating certain cancers
• How do direct monoclonal antibodies work in cancer treatment?

  They bind to cancer cell antigens
• What is the advantage of using monoclonal antibodies in cancer treatment?

  They target only cancer cells
• What is indirect monoclonal antibody therapy?

  Antibodies deliver cytotoxic drugs to cancer cells
• Why are cytotoxic drugs attached to monoclonal antibodies?

  To deliver drugs directly to cancer cells
• What are some diseases tested using monoclonal antibodies?

  • Pregnancy
  • Influenza
  • Hepatitis
  • Chlamydia
  • Prostate cancer
  • HIV
  • COVID-19
• What does the ELISA test stand for?

  Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
• How does a pregnancy test work?

  It detects a hormone in urine
• What happens when the hormone is present in a pregnancy test?

  A blue line appears on the test
• What is the purpose of the control band in a pregnancy test?

  To confirm the test is working
• What is the first step in the ELISA test?

  Add the test sample to the device
• Why is washing done after adding the test sample in the ELISA test?

  To remove unbound test sample
• What does the second antibody in the ELISA test do?

  It binds to the first antibody
• What indicates the presence of the antigen in the ELISA test?

  Color change from colorless to blue
• What does the intensity of the color in the ELISA test indicate?

  The quantity of the antigen present