The HIV infection, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that occurs in humans and who's main directive is to interfere with our immune system. Most people spend their days unaware of their immune systems functions, however when the system becomes weak or a new type of virus or bacterial infection comes along, we become sick. This is usually when we notice that our body is starting to fight off the infection, wether its through fevers or headaches we are glad to be the owners of such an immune system. When HIV infects the body, it sends the immune system into a big mess, preventing it from doing its job properly. One of the primary targets of HIV is the T helper cell, along with others. This cell can be thought of as the detective of the immune system, giving the other cells directions on what to fight and create immunity for. Unfortunately since HIV infects the detector cells, the immune system is forced to attack itself, killing the T cells in the process. Low numbers of the T cell is what leads to malfunction of the immune system making the host prone to infection.
HIV. (2009). Retrieved september 16, 2009, from http://www.epigee.org/health/hiv_symptoms.html
Actually, the “directive” the virus has is to reproduce. It really doesn’t care about our immune systems, it’s just looking for a way to reproduce itself.
ReplyDeleteIn the early days of the pandemic it was thought that HIV lie dormant for “X” amount of time, then something “turned it on” to wreak havoc on a person’s immune system. Since the advent of the viral load test we now know that as soon as a person becomes infected a war starts in the body. It’s HIV against the immune system. HIV uses the t-4 helper cells to replicate, and the immune system creates antibodies to destroy HIV. This battle can go on for years without a person’s knowledge. It tends to be a matter of genetics as to how long the immune system can keep the upper hand.
I found out that I was positive in 1985 and suspect that I was infected in the late 70s, but didn’t start any treatments until 1994. My later partner Dennis, died from complications of AIDS in September of 1988. Since we probably brewed up a very similar strain of HIV, I attribute his death, and my resistance to a genetic predisposition. Dennis‘ younger brother now has Parkensin’s and his younger sister is an orthopedic nightmare and has had health problems her whole life. Their father died in his 50s, but their mother is still plugging along at 82. All of the kids seem to have inherited their “health predispositions” from their father. Likewise, my father is still going at 84, and my mother died at 59.
I think you did a very good job of discussing the virus in terms that were easily understandable, and kept it interesting. I think that is a good topic to research on.
ReplyDeleteYour blog was very interesting and very informative. I've heard alot about the HIV virus; how it's transmitted and things of the sort, but never have I heard the breakdown of the process of how it attacks our body in such and understandable manner. I too find this subject very interesting and I look forward to your future DID YOU KNOW add-ons in order to get more information on this topic.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!
Actually T4 helper cells also known as CD4 are the immune system managers. They tell the killer T cells and the B cells what to do. HIV's sole reason for living is to reproduce. In doing so it chose to reproduce inside the cell that the immune system calls its manager. If you shut down the manager, you can shut down the entire system, not by design but because of choice of cell. Had the virus chosen, say skin cells to replicate it, the outcome would have been very different.
ReplyDeleteYou are very correct when you say we are unaware of our own immune systems until something happens to us. The same is true initially with HIV infection. Since we don't pay attention to our bodies as a general rule, we wouldn't notice the changes taking place upon infection. Some people get a mild cold or flu-like symptoms or some a mild skin rash, but others do not. Most ignore those signs as they have had them in the past with no major problems.
CD4 isn't a detective; it is a boss. The macrophage could be considered a detective, however, because it goes looking for things out of the ordinary. It's job is to protect the immune system from things that would love to cause harm to the human body.
The immune system doesn't attack itself; it attacks the virus. However, the problem here is that the virus can multiply faster than the immune system cells can, so eventually you have more virus than immune system cells. That is when the immune system loses and the naturally occurring microbes we call normal flora or outside microbes vie for the position of king or queen and kill their host.
Fever is a good thing because it tells the immune system something is wrong. You want a low 99-101 fever though. Anything higher than that and your problem is fast becoming unmanageable.
Very good start, Austin. Now this week I want to see the Did You Know as part of your general blog so I don't have to respond to so many posts.
Hi Austin. Your blog on how the virus takes over our immune system was very nicely put. What I was wondering after reading your blog was if there are any scientists who are working on stopping the the HIV virus by intefering in the survival mechanism within the virus. I'm sorry I'm not expressing myself well, but do you think it is possible to irradicate the HIV virus by stopping it's desire to survive? This is what the HIV virus does to our body. It takes over any means of fighting and thus we succumb to the virus. Anyhow, it was just a thought. You did a nice job.
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