HIV

• What does HIV stand for?

  Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• What is HIV?

  A virus that affects the immune system , and eventually leads to acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• What is AIDS?

  A condition where the immune system deteriorates and eventually fails = someone with AIDS is more vulnerable to other infections eg pneumonia
• What does HIV infect and eventually kill?

  helper T-cells
• What act as host cells for the virus ?

  Helper T-cells
• What do helper T-cells do?

  Send chemical signals that activate phagocytes, cytotoxic T-cells and B-cells

  • very important in immune response
• Without enough helper T-cells, what is the immune system UNABLE to do?

  Mount an effective response to infections because other immune system cells do not behave how they should
• When do people INFECTED with HIV develop AIDS?

  When the helper T-cell numbers in their body reach a CRITICALLY LOW LEVEL
• What does HIV do during the Initial Infection Period?


  Replicates rapidly + the infected person may experience severe flu-like symptoms
• What does HIV do after the initial infection period?

  HIV replication drops to a lower level. this is the LATENCY PERIOD
• How long can the latency period last for?


  Years
• What will the infected person experience during the latency period?

  no symptoms