Retroviruses, AIDS, Tumor Viruses Flashcards
What retrovirus does not cause human disease?
Spumaviruses
What are the various types of retrovirus diseases?
Slow retroviruses: tumors
Cytopathic retroviruses: direct tissue damage
Acute transforming retroviruses: rapid tumor formation
Which HTLV is most commonly associated with humans?
HLTV-1
How is HTLV-1 spread?
Needle sharing, sexual, breastfeeding
What is special about the way HTLV-1 spreads within the body?
It does not release from cell. So only infects other cells through cell-cell interactions
What are the major complications for HTLV-1?
Adult T-cell lymphoma (ATLL): spots seen on the skin are small tumors
HAM/TSP: CNS disease that begins with bladder control issues
How is HTLV-1 treated?
ATLL - chemotherapy
HAP/TSP - corticosteroids
How is HIV spread?
Sexual, needle sharing, mother to infant
What cells does HIV target?
CD4+ memory T-cells
What is the major risk of HIV infection?
Oppurtunistic diseases can cause more damage
How is HIV treated?
NO VACCINE
Variety of antivirals including AZT
What is unique about the retrovirus replication cycle?
Reverse transcriptase takes RNA -> DNA in cytoplasm; then integrates into host DNA in nucleus
