The AIDS virus infects the cells that make up the immune system of the human body, as a result of which the cells can no longer protect the body from disease. Scientists have long been trying to develop a universal cure for this primitive, but insidious microorganism called HIV.
The main dangers of HIV infection
This virus belongs to the group of lentiviruses, to a subgroup of retroviruses, which are characterized by a slow effect on the human body. In most cases, the main signs of diseases of this group can occur when it is too late to take decisive action.
By studying its structure, the AIDS virus can be characterized as a substance from a double fat layer, on the upper part of which are glycoprotein substances that look like mushrooms, inside which a pair of RNA chains is located. Thanks to this structure, it freely penetrates into the blood cells of a person. Moreover, despite the fact that the structure of the blood cell is a much more complex structure than the HIV virus itself, it freely captures the cell and completely destroys it.
Virus study
Since the AIDS virus infects any person, regardless of age or gender, the only salvation from it is that since infection occurs only when certain situations occur, it can be prevented. In addition, even if a situation arises when HIV nevertheless penetrates the body, modern medicines can prevent its reproduction in a timely manner and, as a result, prevent the destruction of the human immune system.
Despite the fact that scientists have long established which cells the AIDS virus infects , some aspects of HIV infection are still unexplored. For example, in what way cell destruction occurs, for what reason the bulk of people with this infection continue to look absolutely healthy for a fairly long period of time. These issues do not lose relevance, even despite the fact that HIV is included in the category of the most studied viruses in the history of mankind.
Penetration and fixing of the virus
After penetration into the body, the AIDS virus infects blood cells belonging to the group of T-lymphocytes, on the surface of which there are special SD-4 molecules and other cells containing this receptor. It is noteworthy that for rooting and further spreading throughout the body, the virus does not need any additional stimuli, for reproduction it needs only the cell of an infected person.
In fact, the genetic material does not just penetrate the cell, its membrane completely merges with it, after which the virus begins to gradually progress.
Medications to slow the development of the virus
To date, scientists continue to develop a vaccine that should prevent the invasion of the HIV virus into the cell, making AIDS prevention a standard procedure. Research in this area is based on the fact that in most viruses existing on the planet, genetic information is encoded in the form of DNA, and with careful study, the likelihood of creating an active vaccine is very high. However, HIV is encoded into RNA, due to which it rebuilds in human blood, converting its RNA into the DNA of an infected person using reverse transcriptase, thanks to this transformation, the cell is easily exposed to the HIV virus.
The AIDS virus infects an infected person’s cell during the first 12 hours from the time of infection, while it begins to perceive viral DNA as its own, completely obeying the commands laid down in it. At this stage, the infection of the virus can be prevented by taking antiretroviral drugs that are part of the group of reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Submitting to the commands given by the infected cell, the components of the virus begin a program to play various components of the virus, which later go through the same stage of rough assembly into a new full-fledged virus. Despite the fact that the newly formed virus cannot immediately infect the next cell, splitting off the DNA cell that produced it, it comes into contact with another enzyme in the virus called protease. It completely forms a new viral cell, after which it acquires the ability to become infected, and the AIDS virus infects the next cell.
Storage tank
Considering in detail the question of how much the AIDS virus lives, one should pay attention to the fact that some cells with a long lifespan, for example, macrophages and monocytes, can carry a large amount of the virus at once and at the same time continue to function without dying.
In fact, they are full reservoirs for the HIV virus. For this reason, even with the timely use of an antiviral medication, there is no guarantee that AIDS has not strengthened in such a cell, where although it will not be active, it will become absolutely invulnerable to the effects of drugs. Therefore, the virus cannot be completely eliminated from the body, and it can appear at any time.
The development of the virus since infection
The virus in each person progresses at an individual rate. Some patients become ill during the first few years after infection, and the rest more than 10-12 years later, it all depends on additional factors. The rate of development of the virus can be affected by:
- Individual characteristics of the body.
- Nervous system.
- Living conditions.
In most cases, infection occurs as a result of the blood of an infected person entering the bloodstream of an uninfected person - this can happen with multiple injections with a disposable syringe or as a result of transfusion of infected blood. HIV infection is also common during unprotected intercourse or through the oral cavity.
What happens as a result of infection?
The period of active manifestation of antibodies to HIV is up to three months, after which an immunologist or venereologist can detect them in the blood using a blood test for HIV infection . Even with a positive result, the analysis must be repeated, only after that the person is informed about the disease.
Despite the fact that AIDS prevention could significantly reduce the prevalence of the disease, the likelihood of infection exists for any person. At the same time, cells of the human immune system, upon detecting the AIDS virus, act in a manner familiar to them. They capture the virus at the place of detection and transfer it directly to the lymph nodes, where the complete destruction of the virus should take place. However, as soon as the virus reaches the goal, it begins to accelerate in the body.
Most infected people are exposed to an acute form of infection - viremia, as a result of which the protective functions of the body are reduced by half at once, and the person begins to feel the same symptoms as with SARS. After several months of fighting the infection, the AIDS virus dies, but only partially. Most elements of HIV still manage to take root in the cells. After that, the level of T-4 lymphocytes almost completely restores previous indicators. In most cases, a person after undergoing an acute form of the virus does not even suspect that HIV infection is accelerating in his body, because the virus does not have any obvious manifestations.
Preventative measures
Since an effective cure for HIV infection has not yet been developed, and existing drugs only slow down the development of the virus, AIDS prevention is the only effective method to prevent infection.
Most people think that they can get the AIDS virus even through household contact with an infected person, but this is not entirely true. You can live quite calmly next to an infected person, but you should know that there are a number of diseases that significantly increase the risk of infection. For example, sexually transmitted diseases or anal intercourse. Be sure to adhere to the rules of personal safety in the intimate sphere and lead a healthy lifestyle to avoid becoming infected with such a dangerous virus as AIDS.