HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Full Answer Section

• HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) is a combination of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs). Note: Modern HAART often includes other classes of inhibitors as well, such as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), integrase inhibitors, and entry inhibitors.

• The three non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are:

  • Nevirapine
  • Efavirenz
  • Delavirdine  

• High-risk types of human papillomavirus, particularly HPV types 16 and 18, are the primary causes of uterine cervical cancer in women and anal cancer in men and women.  

• Toxoplasmosis can be acquired primarily by two means:

  • Ingesting cysts from undercooked or raw meat (especially pork, lamb, and venison).
  • Exposure to oocysts in cat feces (through accidental ingestion after touching contaminated litter boxes or soil).  

• For infants, because of saliva and urine, cytomegalovirus (CMV) spreads rapidly in daycare settings.  

• The causative agent for the disease Pneumocystosis is the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii).  

• Kaposi's sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining of blood and lymph vessels (endothelial tissue). In this process, the endothelial cells proliferate abnormally, forming lesions (tumors) that often appear as purple, red, or brown blotches or nodules on the skin, but can also occur in other parts of the body, including the mouth, nose, throat, lymph nodes, and internal organs. Kaposi's sarcoma is strongly associated with infection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and is a common opportunistic infection in individuals with advanced HIV/AIDS due to their weakened immune systems

Sample Answer

Here are the answers to your questions:

1. HIV-1 is the prominent HIV type in the United States.  

2. The three most important modes of transmission for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are:

   • Unprotected sexual contact (anal, vaginal, or oral sex)
   • Sharing needles or syringes (for injecting drugs, tattooing, or piercing)  
   • Mother-to-child transmission (during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding)  

3. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and symptoms usually occur when T cells (specifically CD4+ T cells) dip below 200 cells/µL.