HIV: The Equal Opportunity Employer
What happens when the military is disarmed by an invader? The intruder takes over, exploits the inhabitants, and then eradicates them. HIV is a virus that has the same M.O. (modus operandi). It’s only focus is to replicate itself and survive by manipulating the human immune system. So, what’s the tidbit on HIV?
HIV =
Human = earthlings
Immunodeficiency = failing of the immune system
Virus = an agent that infects living cells
HIV is a retrovirus, meaning that its genetic material is RNA, not DNA. All the information for it to invade, replicate, multiply, repeat, and survive is held in an ultra-nano-teeny-tiny capsule.
The process of viral invasion and expansion in the least complicated terms:
1. It enters your body
2. It seeks out cells that allow it to replicate: T-Cells with surface CD4 receptors
3. It inserts its genetic material (RNA) into your genetic material (DNA)*
4. It uses your genetic factory to produce more of its genetic material
5. It gathers enough material and assembles into new clones
6. It extracts itself from the cell
7. It infects additional T-Cells**
8. It multiplies in significantly large quantities
*Note that insertion occurs after the virus slyly turns its RNA into DNA
**Note that there are more virus particles now to infect even more T-Cells
T-Cells die after HIV is done using them for its own multiplication. We no longer have a resilient army protecting us from all the harmful stuff in the environment. Ominously, illnesses, like the flu, pneumonia, and cancer, occur when T-Cells are depleted or ineffective. When the body gets infected with multiple intruders and develops multiple conditions, we call it AIDS.
Take a Minute:
If a virus is killing its host, then how can it ensure long-term survival? Yes, it needs to wear out and slay T-Cells in order not to be eradicated. However, is it intentionally killing the T-Cells or is that just an “oh shit, what did I just do” type of afterthought.
Metaphorically:
HIV is like a freeloader coming into your crib and using the very things that you need to subsist. After the sponge dries you up, it leaves to take over another person’s home. It doesn’t care who’s house it is, it just cares that it has all that it needs for the taking.
Undeniably, the system is way more complicated than laid out here. But, this is the gist and Uncle Sam definitely wants you. Finding the scientific basis to cure HIV is in the works. You can peep Interview with a $cientist with Marcella Flores, PhD, MPH who is the Associate Director at amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research). Dr. Flores works with other scientists to reach their shared goal for a cure by 2020.
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