Immunology and Infection: HIV and AIDS Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts, statistics, and mechanisms related to HIV and AIDS as presented in the lecture.

What is the global scale of the HIV epidemic as of 2022?

39 million people were living with HIV.

How many people became newly infected with HIV in 2022?

1.3 million people.

What was the number of AIDS-related deaths in 2022?

630,000 people.

How many people have been infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic?

85.6 million people.

What percentage of adults and children living with HIV in 2022 were women aged 15 years and older?

37.5 million.

What is a key characteristic of AIDS in terms of immune deficiency?

AIDS is a secondary immunodeficiency.

What are the two main types of immunodeficiency discussed in relation to AIDS?

Primary immunodeficiency and secondary (acquired) immunodeficiency.

What is the most common means of HIV transmission?

Vaginal/anal intercourse.

What does CD4+ T-cell help involve in the immune response to HIV?

Activation of cytotoxic T cells and antibody production.

What are the two major structural proteins of the HIV virion?

gp120 and gp41.

What is the role of reverse transcriptase in HIV?

It catalyzes the conversion of viral RNA into DNA.

What factors impact the immune response to HIV?

Latency, high mutation rate, and viral sequestration.

What type of virus is HIV-1 classified as?

A retrovirus.

What are the three structural genes of HIV-1?

gag, pol, and env.

What is the clinical course of HIV progression?

It progresses from acute viral infection to AIDS over months to years.

What cellular receptors are targeted by HIV for cell entry?

CD4 and co-receptors like CXCR4 or CCR5.

What is the primary method for treating HIV?

Antiretroviral therapy.

What is the significance of drug resistance in HIV treatment?

It complicates treatment and may require regimen changes.

Why is developing an effective vaccine for HIV challenging?

The virus mutates rapidly, limiting immune response effectiveness.

What are the two types of HIV drugs?

Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

What is one major reason for the difficulties in creating AIDS vaccines?

The rapid mutation rate of the virus.

What is a provirus in the context of HIV infection?

HIV DNA that is integrated into the host's genome.

What does the term 'immune evasion' refer to regarding HIV?

HIV's ability to avoid immune system elimination.

What are the stages of the HIV life cycle?

Binding, fusion, reverse transcription, integration, and budding.

Which cells are primarily targeted by HIV in the gut?

Intestinal TH17 cells.

What type of therapy inhibits HIV replication at various stages of its life cycle?

Antiretroviral therapy.

What occurs during the acute phase of HIV infection?

High viral load and drop in CD4+ T-cell numbers.

What is HAART?

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy.

What are the two main areas of focus in HIV therapeutics?

Treatment and prevention.

What was the status of the major HIV-1 vaccine trials conducted to date?

Most have been largely ineffective.

What is the role of B cells in the immune response to HIV?

They generate antibodies against the virus.

In HIV research, what are CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responsible for?

Killing virus-infected cells.

What is the purpose of integrase inhibitors in HIV treatment?

To prevent the integration of viral DNA into the host genome.

How does HIV escape the immune response?

Through latency and high genomic variability.