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normally viral resistant CD4 cells (Fackelmann / Herpesvirus 215).

Another theory, the autoimmune theory, is proposed by Gene Shearer of

the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases states that the HIV

virus tricks the immune system into attacking itself. In an experiment, mouse

lymphocytes were inoculated into another strain of mice inducing an antibody

response against HIV but also possibly against the infected lymphocyte itself.

This response was similar to the graft vs. host response that causes many grafts

to be rejected unless the immune system is suppressed by drugs. Two other

scientists, Kion and Hoffman, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver,

say that the HIV infection produces two effects, one against the helper cells

(CD4) and another one against the suppresser cells ( a set of immune system

cells that stabilize the helper cells) (Combating AIDS 368).

There is a lot of controversy in the theories surrounding the processes

governing the development of AIDS after a person is infected. There is a long

and highly variable incubation period with roughly fifty percent of male

homosexuals developing the disease within ten years after infection ( Folks).

One phase of research has been devoted to the body’s natural immune system. In

a research project, seven young homosexual men were identified with early stag

HIV. This is normally very hard to do because most people do not get tested

until they start showing signs of the virus or other opportunistic illnesses and

by that time the virus has multiplied many times making testing of the early

stages impossible. The blood studies showed that in the first stages of the

disease, there is an enormous burst of HIV growth in the body (numbers that are

comparable to those patients with full blown, severe, AIDS). The tests taken

over the next days revealed a significant drop in the levels of the virus

population and a substantial rise in the antibody population. At full scale

antibody production, little or no HIV virus was detected. The bodies immune

system had successfully shutdown production of the HIV virus. These

researchers are now concentrating on trying to figure out why the bodies immune

system does not continuously defend against the invading HIV virus (Gorman 62).

The standard test for the HIV virus involves taking a blood sample from

the suspected individual and testing it for HIV antibodies. The body almost

always develops antibodies to viruses. It usually takes a few weeks to a few

months for the HIV antibodies to develop after infection with the HIV virus and

sometimes longer. Some reports show that it can sometimes take years for the

antibodies to show up.

Once a patient tests positive for the HIV virus, further tests are done.

One of the newest blood tests scans for an obscure adrenal hormone that seems to

forecast full blown AIDS. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone-a steriod) is thought to

help protect against heart disease, cancer, and viral infections among other

things. There seems to be between low levels of DHEA and the onset of full

blown AIDS. There is also some evidence that shows DHEA inhibits HIV

replication thus, helps shield against HIV progression. As a result a drug firm

is beginning to manufacture a synthetic form of DHEA to tests its help against

AIDS (Fackelmann / Mysterious 277).

There are several ways that doctors are treating the symptoms of AIDS.

As the opportunistic diseases occur, there are treated symptomatically (ex.

pneumonia is treated with antibiotics). In general most patients are treated

with AZT, a drug that though it many side effects it is thought to be effective

in slowing down the progress of the HIV virus. There is a new drug, ddI

(dideoxgenosine), available to those patients who can not tolerate AZT or for

whom it is no longer effective. DdI may also useful in combination with AZT.

The cost for ddI is about twenty percent less than that of AZT. AZT is also

used in combination with other drugs (Combating AIDS 348). Another drug that is

still in the experimental stage is Phosphorodithioate DNA. This structure is

being hailed as a potential drug in that it is hoped to interfere with the

transcribing of the viral RNA into c-DNA which is crucial for the replication of

the HIV virus. Cell culture studies of the drug have showed no toxicity at

10uM concentrations but this drug is only in the laboratory state (Cowley 70).

Another avenue of protection against HIV infection is with finding a

vaccine that will protect against HIV invasion. In 1990, a new HIV vaccine was

tested on individuals rated low risk for HIV infection. They were given a

vaccine made using a synthetic protein that mimics the protein found in the HIV

virus protein coat. The trial was a partial disappointment. The vaccine was

proven safe but seemingly none effective. It was not only none effective but it

in six recipients it caused a phenomenon that stimulates an increases in the

infectious rate of viruses. Some recipients did develop antibodies to the

protein but most of these antibodies weakened after a year. The results were

inconclusive as to whether or not the antibodies would protect against the HIV

virus (Weiss 38). Another researcher, Jonas Salk, is in the process of testing

an AIDS vaccine based on a deactivated HIV virus stripped of its

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