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  • HIV/AIDS - Disease Topic Overview

    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus infecting humans, and is responsible for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).1 HIV belongs to the retrovirus family and possesses the ability to reverse-transcribe its single-strand RNA genome to form double-strand DNA, which can then integrate into the genome of the host cell.1 There are two types of HIV; HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the most common type, affecting the majority of people living with HIV around the world.1

    The transmission of HIV requires contact with a body fluid that contains the virus or infected cells. This can occur through; sexual contact, blood transfusion, sharing of contaminated equipment (syringe), through the placenta during childbirth and through breastfeeding.1 The viral particles present in these body fluids recognise specific receptors (mainly CD4+ lymphocytes) on the surface of cells destined to be infected.1

    The HIV infection is characterised by progressive loss of CD4+ lymphocytes, leading to severe immunodeficiency after a varying period of time.2 The average time between initial infection and the onset of the clinical signs of AIDS is to about 8-10 years, but the time is variable between individuals, and depends on a complex interaction between virus and host.2

    AIDS is now one of the largest pandemics and has become a global health problem because the disease remains incurable.3 AIDS was identified in 1981, and the virus that causes HIV was isolated for the first time in 1983.3 Since then, the disease has spread in waves in different parts of the world.4 In 2009, according to the World Health Organisation data, more than 33 million people were living with the HIV virus.5

    AIDS continues to take a heavy toll around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and its incidence is increasing in some countries such as; China, India and parts of Eastern Europe.4 Information campaigns on sexual risk behaviours, and awareness campaigns on use of condoms, remain the best prevention against STIs such as AIDS.6

    1. Beers M.H. et al. The Merck manual of medical information. Merck research laboratories. Second home edition. 2003, 1168-1184.
    2. de Oliveira Silva M. et al. Acute HIV infection with rapid progression to AIDS. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases. May-June 2010 ; 14 (3) : 291-293.
    3. Levin B.R et al. Epidemiology, Evolution, and Future of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic. Emerging Infectious Diseases. June 2001 ; 7 (3) : 505-511.
    4. Fauci A.S. HIV and AIDS: 20 years of science. Nature Medicine. July 2003 ; 9 (7) : 839-843.
    5. World Health Organization. Global summary of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. WHO and UNAIDS. December 2009 : available online.
    6. Genuis S.J. et al. Managing the sexually transmitted disease pandemic: A time for reevaluation. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. October 2004 ; 191 (4) : 1103-1112.

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An Animations Explaining the Mechanism by which the HIV Virus works

HIV/AIDS Drug Data - A-Z English


Latest Drug News

Vacc-4x(Bionor Pharma) success in Phase IIb trial for HIV/AIDS - 17-02-2012
Bionor Pharma announced a final review of phase IIb data for its vaccine, Vacc-4x, which confirms a statistically significant 64% reduction of viral load “set point” (average of the last two viral load measurements before the end of the study) in patients receiving Vacc-4x compared to those given placebo. The HIV viral load set point in patients given Vacc-4x was 60% lower than pre-ART (level before starting with standard medicine, ART). In the placebo group, no change compared to pre-ART was observed. The conclusive data will provide a basis for further HIV trials.
Viread(Gilead Sciences) and Kidney Disease risk - 15-02-2012
Viread (tenofovir) from Gilead Sciences one of the most commonly prescribed antiretroviral medications for HIV/AIDS, is associated with a significant risk of kidney damage and chronic kidney disease that increases over time, according to a study of more than 10,000 patients led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC) and the University of California, San Francisco . The researchers call for increased screening for kidney damage in patients taking the drug, especially those with other risk factors for kidney disease. In their analysis of comprehensive VA electronic health records, the study authors found that for each year of exposure to tenofovir, risk of protein in urine - a marker of kidney damage - rose 34 percent, risk of rapid decline in kidney function rose 11 percent and risk of developing chronic kidney disease rose 33 percent.

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Latest Clinical Trials

Effects of Mixed Exercise Regime and L-Carnitine Supplementation in HIV Patients on HAART
HIV patients treated with Highly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy (HAART) show significant metabolic symptoms, such as lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. A possible contribution to these symptoms in HIV/HAART is a decrease in mitochondrial function, resulting in a decreased fatty acid oxidation. A combined regime of aerobic and resistance training has been demonstrated to increase lean body mass and reduce overall fat and truncal fat and the levels of triglyceride and LDL cholesterol.
HIV Vaccine Study in HIV Positive Patients
The purpose of the study is to see whether a single vaccination (injection) with the investigational HIV vaccine is safe and effective in patients who are HIV positive but have not yet begun anti-retroviral therapy. As this is an exploratory study, four different dose formulations of HIV vaccine will be investigated. This study will evaluate whether or not the HIV vaccine is able to reduce the HIV viral load (number of HIV virus particles in the blood) and increase or slow the decline in CD4 T cell count.

Latest Journal Publications

Journal of Pregnancy
Objective. To examine risk factors for false positive HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) testing at delivery. Study Design. A review of pregnant women who delivered at Parkland Hospital between 2005 and 2008 was performed. Patients routinely received serum HIV EIA testing at delivery, with positive results confirmed through immunofluorescent testing. Demographics, HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) results were obtained. Statistical analyses included Pearson's chi-square and Student's t-test. Results. Of 47,794 patients, 47,391 (99%) tested negative, 145 (0.3%) falsely positive, 172 (0.4%) positive, and 86 (0.2%) equivocal or missing HIV results. The positive predictive value of EIA was 54.3%. Patients with false positive results were more likely nulliparous (43% versus 31%, P<0.001) and younger (23.9 ± 5.7 versus 26.2 ± 5.9 years, P<0.001). HIV positive patients were older than false positive patients and more likely positive for HBsAg and RPR. Conclusion. False positive HIV testing at delivery using EIA is associated with young maternal age and nulliparity in this population.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology
The realization of a major role for events that occur during acute viremia that dictate the course of disease both in HIV-1 infected humans and susceptible SIV infected non-human primates has prompted an intense interest in studies of the contribution of innate immune effector mechanisms. It is reasoned that findings from such studies may be important and need to be incorporated into the design and formulation of potential candidate vaccines against HIV-1. This review serves to outline the various non-human primate models that can best serve to address this issue, a summary of our knowledge on the various subsets of NK cells (one of the major innate immune cell lineage) that have an impact on the course of disease, the potential pathways that regulate their function and the potential role of the KIRs on SIV-induced disease course. Finally, the major points from this report and the data presented on similar subjects by other investigators is utilized to provide a summary of the potential future directions that we need to take in efforts to move this field forward.

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HIV/AIDS