Lecture 9 - HIV/AIDS: The current situation

Question 1

What are some things that affect the chances of you acquiring AIDS?

Answer 1

Age, since an increasing age leads to destruction of the thymus. This leads to increased viral incidence and cancer.

Also, severe stress. Excess production of corticosteroids is toxic to T cells

Question 2

What is AIDS?

Answer 2

The combined presence of an opportunistic disease/pathogen associated with HIV

Question 3

Classify HIV.

Answer 3

Retrovirus. +ssRNA

Question 4

What are the different subtypes of HIV?

Answer 4

HIV-1: in the US and Europe

HIV-2: West Africa