Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Subject – Science and Tech
Context – Moderna, the Massachusetts based American biotechnology company, has indicated that it may begin human trials for a vaccine for HIV (human immuno deficiency virus) in September, according to theClinicalTrials.gov website, employing the same mRNA platform that it has used in its COVID19 vaccine.
Concept –
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a lentivirus, which is a sub-classification of the retrovirus. It causes the HIV infection which over time leads to AIDS (Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome).
- AIDS is a deadly condition in which the affected person’s immune system fails, leading to the spread of life-threatening infections and cancers in his body.
- HIV demolishes a particular type of WBC (White Blood Cells) and the T-helper This virus also makes copies of itself inside these cells.
- T-helper cells are also known as CD4 cells.
- The average survival period for a person affected with HIV without treatment is nine to eleven years, subject to the subtype of HIV.
- HIV infection can occur by the transference of blood, breast milk, vaginal fluid, semen, or pre-ejaculate.
- HIV occurs as both free virus particles and as a virus inside the infected immune cells within the above-mentioned bodily fluids.
- It becomes difficult for a person infected with this virus to recover from even a minor injury or sickness.
- By receiving treatment, a severe form of HIV can be prevented.
