HIV Virus

HIV

Overview

HIV or human immunodeficiency virus is one of the several viruses that cause human disease . A virus is a microorganism that may infect living cells and cause disease . Unlike bacteria , viruses are much smaller and can only be seen using a highly specialized microscope called the electron microscope . The HIV virus particle is about 100 nanometers (nm in size where a nanometer is 1 X 10-9 of a meter

HIV viruses belong to the genus Retroviridae (Retrovirus ) and the family Lentiviridae . HIV is a RNA virus (RNA stands for

ribonucleic acid having a RNA genetic material or an RNA genome . The genetic material is enclosed by a nucleocapsid made up of protein materials and a lipid envelope . HIV virus is described to be an enveloped RNA virus Furthermore , protruding from the envelope , one may see glycoprotein spikes designated gp120 , for example . These envelope proteins are recognized by the immune system and corresponding antibodies are produced . Other viral proteins also serve as antigens that prompt the immune system

The HIV virus is the causative agent of disease AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . AIDS is a severe life-threatening disease that involves a person 's immune status or defense mechanisms against other diseases . The HIV virus enters the body through genital mucosa oral mucosa or other mucous membranes , then gains entry into the blood stream and spreads to deeper tissues until AIDS disease develops

HIV infection has spread worldwide . AIDS is a serious public health problem . Although the first identified case of AIDS was observed around 1981 , AIDS has been thought to exist since the 1950s . Studies suggest that the virus may have been transferred to humans with exposure to the virus from other primates like chimpanzees for HIV-1 or sooty mangabeys for HIV-2 . Although , HIV-2 is a less virulent form of which infection with HIV-2 often does not develop to full-blown AIDS . Virulence pertains to the capability of a causative agent to cause a certain disease

At present , the incidence of AIDS can be noted to increase . According to CDC , in the United States alone (at the end of 2003 , there is an estimated 1 ,039 ,000 to 1 ,185 ,000 HIV infected individuals . The estimated number of AIDS cases varies among the different racial and ethnic groups . In a 2005 CDC report , the number of cumulative AIDS cases since the epidemic through 2005 in non-Hispanic , African-Americans or Blacks is about 399 ,637 next in line are the Whites , non-Hispanic , with 386 ,552 cases followed by Hispanic , 156 ,026 cases Asian /Pacific Islander with 7 ,739 cases and American Indian or Alaska Native with 3 ,251 AIDS cases

CDC further states that , the cumulative number of deaths caused by AIDS since the epidemic to the year 2005 in the United States and other areas such as : American Samoa , Guam , Northern Marian Islands , Puerto Rico and the U .S . Virgin Islands , have already been 550 ,394 deaths . Majority of deaths caused by AIDS were among adults and adolescents however , around 4...