Infections Lecture 7: HIV Introduction

Question 1

What is the predominant virus that causes HIV

Answer 1

Lentivirus

Question 2

How does HIV action take place

Answer 2

Infects immune cell of CD4+ T helper cell which gets killed by own CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes

Direct killing of infected cell

Increased apoptosis of infected cell

As CD4+ cells die, loss of cell mediated immunity results in increased susceptibility of opportunistic infections

Question 3

Describe the HIV lifecycle (6)

Answer 3

Virus adsorption- binds to receptor and co-protein

Virus cell fusion- binds onto cell membrane

Virus uncoats its caspid core- contains RNA and reverse transcriptase

DNA is produced from RNA and reverse transcriptase to be integrated into cell nucleus for transcription

Translation and proteolytic processing by viral protease forms a viral protein whose RNA assemble at cell membrane

Budding from cell membrane and HIV virus is made

Question 4

What are the 5 treatment options available for HIV treatment (same as antiviral lecture drugs)

Answer 4

1. Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (RTIs)
2. Protease Inhibitors
3. Fusion Inhibitors
4. CCR5 receptor antagonist
5. Integrase inhibitors

Question 5

Give examples of nucleotide/side reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs/NRTIs)?

Answer 5

Tenofovir

Emtricitabine/Lamivudine

Question 6

Give examples of protease inhibitors

Answer 6

Darunavir

Ritoavir

Atazanavir

Question 7

Give examples of fusion inhibitors and its role

Answer 7

Enfuvirtide- prevents HIV fusion with cells so no viral RNA is produced

Question 8

Give example of CCR5 receptor antagonist

Answer 8

Maraviroc

Question 9

Give an example of integrase inhibitor

Answer 9

Raltegravir

Question 10

What does the term HAART stand for

Answer 10

Highly active antiretroviral therapy

Question 11

What is the combination tablet normally used in HAART called and contain

Answer 11

ATRIPIA: Efavirenz, tenofovir and FTC