1. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

2. Basic Structure
Viral envelope – lipid bilayer; glycoproteins protrude from surface
Glycoproteins enable virus to recognize surface proteins of special immune cells and to enter the cell (like a key to the cell’s door)
2 strands RNA – only 9 genes; 3 are found in many viruses (structural proteins)
Reverse Transcriptase – turns RNA into DNA (this makes HIV a retrovirus); DNA instructs cell to make more viruses

4. HIV Making Factories Virus enters cell through endocytosis
Virus replicates RNA to DNA with reverse transcriptase

5. DNA enters nucleus & binds with host DNA
New virions exit cell through exocytosis to infect other cells (notice cell isn’t destroyed)
mRNA is created (carries instructions for making new viral proteins) and leaves nucleus
Uses host cell’s enzymes to make new viruses

6. How Is HIV Spread? Sexual contact Sharing contaminated needles
Blood transfusions
Breast feeding (mother to baby)
Mother to baby during pregnancy or birth

7. There are approx. 14,000 new cases of HIV worldwide every day
Think about it…
In the US, there is better than a 1/1000 chance of contracting HIV during unprotected sex
A person can be contagious for more than 10 years before any sign of the disease is apparent
HIV becomes AIDS when the number of immune cells drops below a predetermined number
No one dies from HIV or AIDS; people die from secondary infections (ranging from the common cold to cancer)
More than 3 million people (size of Chicago) die each year
There are approx. 14,000 new cases of HIV worldwide every day