HIV/AIDS Lecture Notes

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and key concepts related to HIV/AIDS, including definitions of terms, mechanisms of infection, and testing methods.

Virus

A microscopic particle that can infect the cells of a biological organism, lacking the means for self-reproduction outside a host cell.

Retrovirus

A virus that belongs to the family Retroviridae, characterized by the ability to reverse transcribe RNA into DNA using the enzyme reverse transcriptase.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

A retrovirus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by infecting and destroying helper T cells.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

A condition in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections due to HIV infection.

Viral Load

A measure of the severity of a viral infection, estimated by calculating the amount of virus present in a body fluid.

Seroconversion

The development of detectable specific antibodies to microorganisms in the serum as a result of infection or immunization.

Antigen

A substance recognized as foreign by the immune system that triggers antibody production.

Antibody

A protein made by the body’s immune system to recognize and attack foreign substances.

Window Period

The time from initial infection with HIV until antibodies are detected, typically lasting 3-8 weeks.

Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

A preventative medical treatment started after potential exposure to HIV to minimize the risk of infection.