HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV destroys certain white blood cells called CD4+ T cells. These cells are critical to the normal function of the human immune system, which defends the body against illness. When HIV weakens the immune system, a person is more susceptible to developing a variety of cancers and becoming infected with viruses, bacteria and parasites.
- envelope with glycoprotein peplomers
- 2 copies of linear plus sense ssRNA, each 7 to 10kb
- 3' polyadenylated tail and 5' cap
- reverse transcriptase (genome doesn't serve as mRNA)
Primary infection
- acute stage
- flu-like symptoms
- fever
- skin rash
- swollen lymph nodes
- rate of replication
- propensity to mutate
- cytopathogenicity
- host resistance (suppresion by CD8 T suppresor cells and presence of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes)
Asymptomatic stage
- no apparent disease
- fall in CD4 T lymphocytes (primary target cell)
- fatigue
- depression
- weight loss
- memory disorders
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