Immunodeficiencies. AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by human immunodeficiency type I (HIV-1) and II (HIV-2) viruses, respectively. HIV-1 was discovered in 1983 and HIV-2 in 1986. HIV-1 is the major cause of AIDS in the world today. Worldwide, the number of HIV-1 infected persons ranges between 30.3-36.1 million, the majority of whom live in the developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and South America. More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981. Nowadays, it infects 14,000 and kills 7,000 individuals daily. The degree of morbidity and mortality caused by HIV and the global impact of HIV infection on health care resources and economics are already enormous and continue to grow.
It is thought HIV-1 first entered the human population early in the 20th century in the region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus probably originally jumped into humans after people came into contact with infected bush meat.
HIV infects a variety of cells of the immune system, including CD4-expressing helper T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. The HIV infection is characterised by diverse clinical features, including profound immunosuppression with associated opportunistic infections and malignancies, wasting, and central nervous system (CNS) degeneration. Currently, no prophylactic immunisation or cure is known for AIDS, although promising new therapies are being developed.
 

Courses

• Immunology [020]

Related contributions:

• Antigen presentation; T cell mediated immunity