Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “HIV” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “HIV” and “the cycle of infection” that causes certain death of an individual. The research also analyzes “the mechanism through which HIV duplicates itself in human body” and tries to explore the scientific findings about the “treatment of HIV”. In addition, the paper compares the “quality of life today and 15 year ago”.

Table of Contents

Introduction3

The Cycle of Infection3

The Quality of Life5

The Treatment Procedure6

Types of Anti-HIV drugs6

Reverse transcriptase inhibitors Nucleoside analogues (NRTIs)6

Inhibitors of reverse transcriptase nucleoside analogues (NNRTIs)6

Protease Inhibitors (PIs)7

Fusion inhibitors (FIs)7

Conclusion7

Works Cited8

HIV Virus Causing AIDS

Introduction

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is capable to cause one of the most critical diseases in the world (AIDS). This virus deteriorates the defense mechanism inside the human body; making it vulnerable to every infectious virus that attacks the body. According to contrastive studies, the 100% cure of AIDS is not possible; however, the technological advancements and the augmentation in the scientific research have discovered the drugs that can suppress the infection cycle. These drugs suppress the progress of infected cells; hence, the life span of an individual suffering from HIV increases.

In 1981 first situations of a new and mortal infection now renowned as came by immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) described in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome was first identified in homosexual men, but it was shortly very resolute that the disease that determinants AIDS can disperse during sexual intercourse, body-fluid and body-fluid goods, and from mother to infant during pregnancy, consignment and breast feeding. AIDS initiated by the human immune deficiency virus (HIV).

The Cycle of Infection

There are two types of HIV HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both of the viruses are able to infect cells with their membrane on the receptor CD4. Each CD4 cell binds to another receptor in order to complete the cycle of infection. These are molecules belonging to the family of receptors representing seven trans-membrane domains coupled with G proteins. The HIV co-receptors contained in the virus mainly use CXCR4 (used by strains with tropism for lymphocytes T) and CCR5 (the strain with tropism for macrophages) to infect the cells of the victim. It is the gp120 protein that binds to viral receptors. The link with CD4 involves three non-contiguous regions; in addition, the link contains highly conserved gp120 membranes that separated from other areas (Gallo, Nye, Paskin, 104).

After the phase of contamination, the virus will initiate the process that causes the fusion between the viral membrane and the cells of the victim. In addition, the process causes conformational changes that triggered by CD4 binding through the loop of gp120 V3 and several cellular proteases. These modifications in the cell allow the insertion of the N-terminal sequence of gp41, consisting polar amino acids within the cell membrane. However, the merger does not occur without the binding of gp120 to its co-receptors. The gp120 are molecules belonging to the chemokine receptors (CCR5 and CXCR4) (Nye, Paskin, ...