HIV Flashcards
What type of body cell does HIV invade?
T cells (CD4)
What is the etiologic agent of AIDS?
HIV
Who discovered HIV?
Luc Montagnier of France and Robert Gallo of the US
Is HIV an RNA or DNA virus?
RNA
What type of family does HIV belong to?
Retrovirus
Which strain of HIV is most common?
1
CD4 Lymphocytes are the primary target of HIV, but what other cells could be infected?
Monocyte/macrophages
HIV limits the body’s ability to fight infection due to markedly reduced helper T cells, why is this so dangerous?
Patients have a very weak immune system
What can lead to death in patients with HIV?
Patients are predisposed to multiple opportunistic infections leading to death
What is the criteria for diagnosis with AIDS?
Positive HIV serology who have ever had a CD4 lymphocyte count below 200 cells/mcL or a CD4 lymphocyte percentage below 14%
How many sides does the HIV virus have? Is it enveloped or non-enveloped?
20 (icosahedral)
Enveloped
What do retroviruses do?
Transcribe RNA to DNA
How many strands of RNA are found in the core of the HIV virus? What are they surrounded by?
2 surrounded by protein outer coat
What are the modes of transmission of HIV?
Sexual Vertical Parenteral Trasnfusion Nosocomial
How many people are living with HIV or AIDS? How many in America?
40 million worldwide
900,000 to 1 million in US
Where is HIV prevalence/Newly infected cases of HIV the highest?
Sub-Saharan Africa #1
South/south-east Asia #2
Symptoms of the primary stage (stage 1) of HIV
Short, flu-like illness occurs one to six weeks after infection
- Mild symptoms
Which stage of HIV is free from symptoms? How long does it last?
Stage 2 - asymptomatic phase
Lasts for an average of 10 years