HIV- epidemiology and transmission Flashcards
Is it an RNA or DNA virus? It is single stranded or double stranded? What size is its genome?
ssRNA lentivirus (slow/long-term infection) 10 kb length
What are the two distinct viruses in HIV? What cells does HIV infect?
HIV 1 (mostly what we're studying) and HIV 2 Infects CD4 positive cells (T-lymphocytes, monocyte/macrophages, dendritic cells)
What are some of the aims by 2020 of the UNAIDS strategy?
90% knowledge of HIV status
90% treatment coverage
In who were cases of pneumonia and Kaposi’s sarcoma seen in 1980?
In 1983, there was a link of contaminated blood with lots of death cases. What happened later in that same year?
In 1984, what were they able to do with HIV in labs?
In 1985, FDA approved HIV antibody test. What did this help with?
In 1987, the first anti-HIV drug was approved but what happened in 1989?
Gay men
Retrovirus isolated from T-cells
Able to culture, clone and molecularly characterise it
Antibody test helps identify HIV positive people due to their response
FDA approved a sensitive HIV antigen test which was much more sensitive than previous tests
Who was Montagnier and Barre-Sinoussi?
Who was Robert Gallo?
Montagnier and Barre-Sinoussi published their research describing the HIV virus but couldn’t identify it as the cause of AIDS
Gallo then used the same sample and linked HIV to being the cause of AIDS
Is HIV closely related to HTLV- I (leukemia)? How was this discovered?
No, it was previously thought to be but after complete genomic sequences were published in 1985, it was renamed the human immunodeficiency virus instead
What are the 4 distinct types of HIV-1? Where are they found?
Group M (main) found worldwide
Group O (outlier) confined to Cameroon/ Gabon
Group N found only in 6 people in Cameroon
Group P found only in 2 people in Cameroon
What is the cross species transmission of SIVcpzPtt in chimps to group M and N HIV1 in humans due to?
Bush meat trade- not sexual!
SIVcpzPtt was found to be the virus in chimps that HIV 1 evolved from. SIVcpz is a combination of which two viruses? How did this virus arise?
SIVcpz is a combination of SIVrcm (Red capped mangabey) and SIVgsn (Greater spot-nosed monkey)
Probably through predation
So groups M and N of HIV 1 came from SIVcpz but where did groups O and P come from?
SIVgor is thought to have caused Group P and O
Humans have been exposed to SIV in monkeys for centuries so what are the theories of why HIV has only recently emerged?
Deforestation, urbanisation, travel and unsterilised needles may cause this
The M group ancestor is estimated to have been around 1931 (+/- 20 years). What are the three causes of such a rapid spread thought to be?
International travel
Blood transfusions
Intravenous drug use
What relationship is there between cost of disposable needles and the transmission of HIV?
Negative correlation- as needle costs get lower, HIV transmission increased
The transmission of HIV depends on contact with blood or mucous membranes. What major route are there for transmission of HIV in humans?
Sexual contact
Why is transmission of HIV actually very inefficient?
Protective layer of mucosal layer
Limited target cell availability
