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HIV/AIDS
Published in Patricia G. Melloy, Viruses and Society, 2023
There is no cure for HIV, but current treatments have in effect turned an HIV-positive status into a “manageable chronic condition,” one that never progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if antiretroviral therapy (ART) is taken, albeit for life (WHO 2021b). In this chapter, we will look at the characteristics of the HIV retrovirus, how it is transmitted, how it can damage the immune system to cause AIDS, and how it can be treated. Of the 37 million people in the world living with HIV, 73% are keeping HIV at bay with ART (WHO 2021b). We will explore how HIV was discovered as the cause of AIDS and the scientific progress made on treating and finding a cure for HIV infection. Like no other virus, HIV has been referenced in the products of popular culture in the late 20th and early 21st centuries such as books, television, and movies. We will explore the public perception of HIV and AIDS, and how that changed over time when an HIV-positive status no longer became a death sentence.
Role of Curcuma longa and Its Constituents, Especially Curcumin, in Prevention and Management of Diseases
Published in Mehwish Iqbal, Complementary and Alternative Medicinal Approaches for Enhancing Immunity, 2023
HIV is responsible for causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in advanced cases (Douek et al., 2009), while it can also cause numerous infectious diseases in the body. Antiretroviral therapy is considered to be the best HIV management, but yet the therapy is not clear, and for the wide range of benefits, alternative therapy is also advised along with it. Curcumin is one of the natural agents that is easy to access, cost-effective, has no reported adverse effects and is safe for use (Prasad & Tyagi, 2015). Curcumin loaded with apo transferrin capsulated in nanoparticles binds to transferring receptors, causing the cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of T cells, eventually inhibiting HIV replication. It also inhibited the expression of topoisomerase II a, IL-1b and COX-2 HIV-induced inflammatory activities (Gandapu et al., 2011). Curcumin inhibits proteases of HIV-1 and HIV-2 and integrase activity of HIV-1. It has an anti-inhibitory effect on the protein kinase pathway in numerous cells which ultimately prevents HIV and also other chronic conditions (Dong et al., 2014; Prasad & Tyagi, 2015).
Antimicrobials during Pregnancy
Published in “Bert” Bertis Britt Little, Drugs and Pregnancy, 2022
Zidovudine (Retrovir) was the first anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug, and is a thymidine analog that inhibits viral replication by inhibiting DNA synthesis. The drug is used mainly in treatment of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It may also be used as a ‘prophylactic agent’ to delay the onset of clinical disease or after accidental exposure to the HIV. Zidovudine was not teratogenic in human or animal studies. Some of the maternal side effects secondary to the drug are difficult to distinguish from those caused by the disease process itself. The antepartum (as early as 14 weeks gestation) and intrapartum prophylactic use of this agent is currently recommended to reduce the frequency of perinatal HIV transmission to the fetus (ACOG, 1994). The risk of fetal HIV infection is substantially reduced in women carrying this virus who are treated with zidovudine during pregnancy (Lyall et al., 2001; Minkoff et al., 2001; Mofenson et al., 2002; Mueller and Pizzo, 2001; Watts, 2001). Zidovudine seems unlikely to be associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies and should be given for the treatment of HIV in pregnancy. First trimester exposure to zidovudine was not associated with an increased frequency of congenital anomalies in 88, 73, 1932 and 1391 infants (Kumar et al., 1994; White et al., 1997; Newschaffer et al., 2000; Watts et al., 2004). In one analysis, hypospadias was increased in frequency (7/382 exposed male infants), but other studies have not replicated this finding (Watts et al., 2007).
Insight into the current Toxoplasma gondii DNA vaccine: a review article
Published in Expert Review of Vaccines, 2023
Xirui Zhang, Hao Yuan, Yasser S. Mahmmod, Zipeng Yang, Mengpo Zhao, Yining Song, Shengjun Luo, Xiu-Xiang Zhang, Zi-Guo Yuan
Toxoplasmosis is a widespread disease caused by opportunistic infection of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), one of the most common pathogenic protozoa in the world. T. gondii infects approximately one-third of the human population on earth [1]. Usually, healthy individuals do not exhibit obvious clinical symptoms but it can cause severe damage to the fetus or immunocompromised patients such as those with Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) [2,3]. In particular, it can cause toxoplasmic encephalitis and retinochoroiditis in humans and abortion in animals [2,3]. Toxoplasmosis is one of the main causes of death in immunocompromised and malignant tumor patients but also it can lead to a devastating effect on the livestock’s health and production, particularly Small domestic ruminants. This can happen as a result of direct loss due to livestock’s death or indirect loss due to reproductive disorders such as stillbirth, abortion, and low surviving rate of the offspring [4–7].
Mild hearing loss in C57BL6/J mice after exposure to antiretroviral compounds during gestation and nursing
Published in International Journal of Audiology, 2023
J. Riley DeBacker, Bo Hua Hu, Eric C. Bielefeld
In an effort to curb the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the World Health Organisation (WHO) works with local governments and researchers to find new ways to implement HIV prevention and transmission control measures. A specific focus of recent prevention efforts has been vertical transmission, where the virus is passed from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. The WHO recommends that all people with HIV initiate and maintain lifelong antiretroviral therapy and specifically highlights pregnant and breastfeeding women as a target population. To minimise the risk of transmission, the WHO recommends treating HIV-positive mothers with highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during pregnancy and breastfeeding (Beyrer 2016). Initial HAART treatment regimens usually include two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and one or more additional drugs. The goal is stopping viral replication, reducing the viral load, and increasing the number of CD4 cells. This helps to prevent the transmission of HIV and often reduces the severity of complications, ultimately increasing survival rate (Poorolajal et al. 2016; Sebitloane and Moodley 2017).
Critical roles of adherens junctions in diseases of the oral mucosa
Published in Tissue Barriers, 2023
Christina Kingsley, Antonis Kourtidis
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has the ability to attack the body’s immune system and then lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Notably, oral lesions can indicate infection with HIV, such as in Kaposi sarcoma.95 It is known that HIV is most often spread primarily by vaginal and rectal routes, but there is also evidence that pediatric HIV infections can occur during breastfeeding.96 Therefore, it is important to consider the role of the oral mucosal barrier in this infection. It has been noted that prolonged interaction of HIV proteins tat and gp120 in oral epithelial cells leads to the disruption of AJs of epithelial cells through reduction of E-cadherin, which can make the cells more susceptible to EMT97 (Figure 2). In addition, HIV-associated disruption of AJs exposes nectin-1, allowing HSV-1 binding and its opportunistic infection throughout the mucosal epithelium98 (Figure 2). Therefore, since adhesion molecules act as viral receptors, it would be of paramount interest to further understand the role of the AJs in viral – epithelial interactions in the oral cavity, to further elucidate the mechanisms by which these diseases can spread throughout the epithelium.