Janelle N. Ruiz Assignment 3: Difference between revisions
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus, more specifically a lentivirus, which means that its genetic material is composed of RNA rather than DNA. To infect a host cell, HIV utilizes its RNA in conjunction with reverse transcriptase (as well as other viral proteins) to integrate its genome into an infected host’s DNA. In this way, the virus is able to exploit the mechanisms and cellular components of the host’s cell in order to transcribe more viral RNA/protein and ultimately infect more cells. The disease caused by HIV is called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which causes devastating immune dysfunction. HIV primarily infects a host’s CD4+ T cells, which are central to proper function of the entire adaptive immune system; however, HIV can also infect macrophages and dendritic cells. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids via sexual contact, intravenous drug use, blood transfusions, etc. It is considered a world-wide pandemic, with the majority of infections being present in Sub-Sahara Africa where both access to healthcare and proper education regarding viral transmission and prevention are lacking. | Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus, more specifically a lentivirus, which means that its genetic material is composed of RNA rather than DNA. To infect a host cell, HIV utilizes its RNA in conjunction with reverse transcriptase (as well as other viral proteins) to integrate its genome into an infected host’s DNA. In this way, the virus is able to exploit the mechanisms and cellular components of the host’s cell in order to transcribe more viral RNA/protein and ultimately infect more cells. The disease caused by HIV is called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which causes devastating immune dysfunction. HIV primarily infects a host’s CD4+ T cells, which are central to proper function of the entire adaptive immune system; however, HIV can also infect macrophages and dendritic cells. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids via sexual contact, intravenous drug use, blood transfusions, etc. It is considered a world-wide pandemic, with the majority of infections being present in Sub-Sahara Africa where both access to healthcare and proper education regarding viral transmission and prevention are lacking. | ||
*Question 2: Write three questions (or more) that you have about HIV that you would like answered. | |||
#How do the various viral proteins associated with HIV work to infect a host cell? | |||
#How is HIV either similar or different from other retro-viruses? | |||
#What is the current status of progress on the HIV vaccine and/or how is the scientific community currently exploiting the mechanisms of "elite controllers" of HIV infection to produce a vaccine that would protect against the devastating effects of the virus? | |||
{{Janelle N. Ruiz}} | {{Janelle N. Ruiz}} | ||
Revision as of 10:35, 2 February 2010
In Class Activity
- Question 1: Record in your online notebook (your individual week 3 journal page) a summary paragraph of the information you already know about HIV (it's OK if you don't know much yet).
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus, more specifically a lentivirus, which means that its genetic material is composed of RNA rather than DNA. To infect a host cell, HIV utilizes its RNA in conjunction with reverse transcriptase (as well as other viral proteins) to integrate its genome into an infected host’s DNA. In this way, the virus is able to exploit the mechanisms and cellular components of the host’s cell in order to transcribe more viral RNA/protein and ultimately infect more cells. The disease caused by HIV is called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which causes devastating immune dysfunction. HIV primarily infects a host’s CD4+ T cells, which are central to proper function of the entire adaptive immune system; however, HIV can also infect macrophages and dendritic cells. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids via sexual contact, intravenous drug use, blood transfusions, etc. It is considered a world-wide pandemic, with the majority of infections being present in Sub-Sahara Africa where both access to healthcare and proper education regarding viral transmission and prevention are lacking.
- Question 2: Write three questions (or more) that you have about HIV that you would like answered.
- How do the various viral proteins associated with HIV work to infect a host cell?
- How is HIV either similar or different from other retro-viruses?
- What is the current status of progress on the HIV vaccine and/or how is the scientific community currently exploiting the mechanisms of "elite controllers" of HIV infection to produce a vaccine that would protect against the devastating effects of the virus?
Class Links
Journal Assignments
- Shared Journal
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 2
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 3
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 4
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 5
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 6
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 7
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 8
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 9
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 11
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 12
- BIOL398-01/S10:Class Journal Week 13
- Assignments
