Lecture Notes on HIV/AIDS

Introduction

• HIV/AIDS has caused the death of over 39 million people globally.
• Currently, 35 million people are infected with HIV.

What is HIV?

• HIV is a virus that enters the bloodstream.
• Transmitted through infected bodily fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk).
• Targets te-helper cells (a type of white blood cell essential for immune function).
• HIV outer envelope has glycoproteins that mutate frequently, tricking te-cells.

HIV Infection Process

• HIV attaches to te-cell receptors, fuses membranes, and enters the cell.
• Releases two viral RNA strands and three replication enzymes.
• As a retrovirus, HIV transcribes RNA into DNA.
• Viral DNA integrates into the host cell's genome.
• Te-cells replicate the virus, producing more copies.
• High mutation rate; over 10 billion new virions daily.

Stages of HIV

• Latency Period: No major symptoms for up to 8 years if untreated.
• Progression to AIDS: Occurs when te-cells fall below 200 cells/cubic mm of blood.
• Results in immune suppression, increased susceptibility to cancers and infections.
• Death occurs from opportunistic infections, not directly from AIDS.

Treatment and Prevention

• Opportunistic Infection Treatment: Medicines like Dera Prim (pricing issues noted).
• Anti-Retroviral Drugs: Slow virus by blocking essential enzymes.
• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): For high-risk individuals; blocks enzyme reverse transcriptase.

Hopes for a Cure

• Some individuals immune due to te-cell mutation.
• Bone marrow transplants can result in HIV-resistant te-cells.
• Potential for generating HIV-resistant cells and combining with other therapies.

Preventative Measures

• Condoms, clean needle programs, and safe blood transfusions.

Conclusion

• Spreading awareness and knowledge is crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
• Encouragement of educational resources like Audible's free 30-day trial for learning.

Additional Notes

• Audible offers a book called "Redefining Reality", exploring scientific and philosophical perspectives.