1. AIDS and HIV Spring 2013

2. HIV HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus It is the virus that causes AIDS www.discoverymagazine.com/.../d2001/d0104a.htm

3. How it attacks… HIV enters the body through the transmission of bodily fluids. HIV has projections that are specifically shaped to find and attach to cell membranes of a very specific kind of immune cells. The specific kind of immune cell is called a T cell.

4. T cells and HIV When functioning correctly T – cells circulate in your body looking for cells that “don’t belong” They will attack and destroy invading bacterial cells and cancer cells http://www.sachsreport.com/archive2.4.htm

5. Destruction of T cells HIV can live in a dormant state inside your T cells for many months or even years. Something triggers HIV to begin reproducing within the T cell Here the HIV (blue) is budding from a T cell (reddish/pink). The T cell is destroyed when this occurs. The HIV viruses will each find another T cell to invade

6. The onset of AIDS When enough T cells have been destroyed, a person’s T cell count drops below the point at which they will be able to defend their body against invaders. At the point the person has AIDS. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. People with AIDS die of diseases other people can fight off because T cells are gone. There is no recovery or cure. AIDS is 100% fatal

7. How it is spread HIV is found in all body fluids Some body fluids – specifically blood and semen- contain a much higher concentration of HIV. Primary modes of transmission: –sexual contact (oral, vaginal or anal) –contact with contaminated needles –mother to child during pregnancy, child birth and breast feeding.

8. How it is NOT spread Casual contact: –Kissing –Shaking hands –Water fountains –Sneezing Insects –Mosquitos, ticks, fleas, etc.

9. But wait…it’s in all body fluids HIV is in saliva and tears…but it is not very concentrated and you do not come in contact with enough saliva by kissing, sharing drinks, sharing eating utensils or even toothbrushes to contract HIV There have been no known cases of HIV as a result of casual contact.

10. Cure For HIV There is no cure AZT is a treatment that helps reduce HIV’s ability to replicate, but it is a complicated, expensive set of medications that only works as a short- term solution AZT has many bad side effects, some of them life-threatening.

11. How you can avoid it Be aware!! –Be aware that people with HIV are probably not going to tell you they have it. –Be aware that there is no way to know someone has it without a test –Be aware that alcohol and drug use will seriously impair your ability to make wise choices –Be aware that the use of condoms will reduce your chances of contracting HIV, but condoms are not 100% effective at preventing anything.

12. Quiz next class Compare and contrast viruses and bacteria Know difference between HIV and AIDS What HIV does to your body and why it is fatal. How you can and cannot contract HIV