#1-5 STUDENT NAME: ORGANISM 20 CONTACT OR VECTOR-BORNE INFECTIOUS DISEASE ORGANI
ID: 81054 • Letter: #
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#1-5
STUDENT NAME: ORGANISM 20 CONTACT OR VECTOR-BORNE INFECTIOUS DISEASE ORGANISMs 1. CAUSATIVE ORGANISM: Humanimmunodeficiency virus (NO SLIDE AVAILABLE) Category: (i.e. bacteria, fungi, protozoa, virus) Gram RXS if bacteria: (if not bacteria, indicate Not Applicable) Unique/key characteristics: (i.ee. capsule, sts, endospores, AND key morphological information) 2. DISEASE(s): Use technically accurate name & if applicable common name) Specifics regarding transmission mechanism (ie. vehicle, vector, any relevant info) 3. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS: (specify if differences between male & female symptoms Title of slide: any key age groups affected) Magnification: 4. TREATMENT (specify drugs used; any key factors in successful treatment; any resistance issues; cure rate; age differences) If no slide, specific sour 5. PREVENTION: (include if vaccine or not & who to be vaccinated; specific precautions to prevent contracting/spreading)Explanation / Answer
Human innumodeficiency virus
Category : Virus
Gram : Not applicable
Unique key characteristics : Belongs to Retroviridae family, 100-110 nm in diameter, has single strand positive ss RNA, icosahedral, enveloped virus.
Disease : Virus causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
The virus is transmitted via contaminated body fluids such as semen, sweat, saliva, tears, breast milk, vaginal fluids and blood. The route could be unprotected sex or contaminated needles.
It majorly affects the white blood cells (WBCs).
The virus binds to CD4 protein on the CD4+ T cell and gains entry into it. For integrating into the host’s chromosomal DNA, the RNA is converted to DNA by reverse transcriptase enzyme ( also encoded by virus). The virus now multiplies inside the host cell and since CD4+ T cells are the primary immune cells that fight infections, damage to them makes our immune system weak. Once the T cell nutrients are exhausted the many copies of virus leave the cell by budding process.
Apart from T cells (lymphocytes the virus can also affect macrophages, and microglia (brain cells) and other neurological cells.
Signs and symptoms
Fever, chronic diarrhoea, chills, sweating in the night, nausea, vomiting, headache, weight loss.
Treatment
Antiretroviral therapy that helps alleviate the symptoms but does not cure the disease. Drugs include - nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors - Abacavir, Didanosine, Emtricitabine, Lamivudine, Stavudine, Tenofovir and Zidovudine. These medicines kill the CD4 T cells so that the virus gets destroyed.
Prevention :
Practice safer sex, avoid using contaminated needles/syringes, safely disposing any such equipments used for HIV patients and cover any open wounds/cuts.
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