Biology: HIV/AIDS and Mitochondrial Biochemistry

Simian immunodeficiency virus of sooty mangabeys (SIVsmm) is identified as the progenitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) and has been transmitted to humans on multiple occasions. Even  then the epidemiology and genetic diversity of SIVsmm infection is unknown.

Kaposi's Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer usually found in older people. It is an aggressive form of cancer associated with HIV, and causes dark lesions on the skin and a variety of locations on the body.

When HIV enters the body, special proteins called antibodies, which are the body's response to an infection, are produced. The standard HIV test looks for antibodies in a person's blood as they indicate that the person has been infected with HIV.

PEP stands for Post Exposure Prophylaxis. This technique involves taking anti-retroviral drugs after HIV exposure in order to prevent infection. PEP should be the prevention method of last resort and should be started no later than 72 hours after exposure, and is not guaranteed to work.

A single does of nevirapine given to the mother at the onset of labour and to the baby after delivery roughly halves the rate of HIV transmission.

The SIV virus found in chimpanzees is very close to HIV. It is believed that the virus crossed species to humans.

The more CD4 cells there are in a person's blood, the stronger the immune system. A CD4 cell count below 450 indicates that the person has a weak immune system and requires antiretroviral therapy.

The most common STD transmitted through oral sex is herpes. Herpes can cause cold sores around the mouth or genital herpes sores.

Rotenone is an inhibitor which acts as a poison and blocks the electron transport chain. When it does so, glycolysis and the citric acid cycle eventually halt.

Non-shivering thermogenesis can be both obligatory and facultative. Obligatory thermogenesis is the heat production caused as a result of the metabolic rate, while facultative thermogenesis can be triggered in cold exposure to raise body temperature.

In the above case the cyanide must have blocked complex IV. It  blocks complex IV by taking electrons from complex III in the electron transport chain in the mitochondira of cells, so not enough ATP is formed for the functions of the body. Thus the diaphragm becomes paralyzed and the person dies.

It  is a chemical uncoupler of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation. It permeabilizes the inner mitochondrial membrane to protons, killing the proton gradient . In this situation, electrons continue to pass through the electron transport system and reduce oxygen to water, but ATP is not synthesized in the process thus it produces similar manifestations as given in the above question.

Coenzyme Q₁₀ was discovered by Professor Fredrick L. Crane in 1957 .

It is a phospholipid occurring primarily in mitochondrial inner membranes and in bacterial plasma membranes. It is regarded as the heart of mitochondrial metabolism.

This enzyme catalyzes the reversible reaction of succinyl-CoA to succinate during TCA cycle. It aids in the the coupling of this reaction to the formation of a nucleoside triphosphate molecule (either GTP or ATP) from an inorganic phosphate molecule and a nucleoside diphosphate molecule (either GDP or ADP).

Ubiquinone is bound to the inner mitochondrial membrane of mitochondria . It is the only enzyme that participates in both the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain. The electron flow from complex I to complex III occurs via ubiquinone.