HIV/AIDS and Human Physiology

The surface protein gp120 conjoins the virus to the host lymphoid tissue by binding to the primary receptor CD4. It signals through several cell surface receptors.

The gag gene is encoded as a large gag-pol protein with another gene then cleaved to the precursor protein assembling, which is then cleaved to Gag. It is involved in virion assembly and produces some of the capsid and nucleocapsid proteins. It does not encode for the lipid bilayer of the virus.

This enzyme is involved in the production of RNA from DNA through transcription. It adds ribonucleotides to growing RNA transcripts at the 3' end. The pol gene does not encode for RNA polymerase.

This gene from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 activates viral gene expression and is essential for HIV replication.

In case of HIV infection, this test finds either the RNA of the HIV virus or the HIV DNA in white blood cells infected with the virus. The PCR test is very useful to find a very recent infection.

The window period is the period between the onset of HIV infection and the appearance of detectable antibodies to the virus. The purpose of the p24 antigen portion of the test is to detect HIV before body has made antibodies, i.e. in the window period.

These cells are vital parts of the cellular immune response, destroying the cells which bear any foreign antigen on their surface mainly virus-infected cells.

It is not a rapid test for the diagnosis of HIV infection. Western blots are considered as the benchmark and seropositivity is diagnosed when antibodies against both the env and the gag proteins are detected.

HAART is used to suppress HIV viral replication and the progression of HIV disease. It conjoins three or more different drugs such as two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and a protease inhibitor. These HAART regimens have proven to reduce the amount of active virus in many cases.

For the HIV infection to occur, the cell fusion is essential. This is done by the trans-membrane glycoprotein gp 41. HIV-1 utilises two major co-receptors along with CD4 to bind to, fuse with and enter target cells.

This immunoglobulin being an antibody plays a vital role in mucosal immunity. It is dominantly present in mucous secretions, including tears and saliva.

Metabolic alkalosis is a pH imbalance in which the body has accumulated huge amount of an alkaline substance, such as citrates or bicarbonates, and does not have enough acid to effectively neutralize the effects of the alkali. Thus, Raman must be suffering from metabolic alkalosis.

Complex I is the first enzyme of the respiratory chain with a significant role in cellular energy production, coupling electron transfer between NADH and quinone to proton translocation. Mal function of it can cause human neurodegenerative diseases.

Blood plasma is the fluid part of blood, making about half of the total blood volume. Plasma, itself, is around 90% water, with the 10% remainder including proteins, minerals, waste products, clotting factors, hormones, and immunoglobins. The enzyme carbonic anhydrase is absent in plasma.

Chylomicrons are lipoproteins, special particles that are designed for the transport of the dietary fats in the circulation.