In patients who have acquired HIV there is a steady loss of immune cells called CD4+ T-lymphocytes. The loss of the immune cells can result in the development of other diseases caused by common infections that don’t threaten normal, healthy people. These infections include fungal, bacterial, protozoal, and viral diseases. It usually takes about six to ten years for a person who contracted HIV to develop AIDS.

In 1983, HIV was identified as a new human retrovirus. Luc Montagnier and scientists at the Pasteur Institute in Paris had isolated the retrovirus from a lymph nodes of a man who was thought to be at the risk of getting AIDS. Almost at the same time both Robert Gallo’s group at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a group led by Jay Levy at the University of California had isolated the retrovirus from several different AIDS patients.

When HIV was identified in 1983 the opportunity to develop a method of detection was great. Screening tests now

Provides infected people with pain alleviation and treatment from opportunistic infections

in widespread use show the presence of antibodies that are made by the immune system when infected by HIV.

This vaccine can help researchers understand the kinds of immune responses that work best against HIV. The part of the immune system that works best against HIV is called cellular immunity. This part has killer cells that seek out and destroy HIV infected-cells.

There are many ways that an individual can contract HIV. You can become infected through unprotected sex with a person who has HIV or AIDS and by sharing needles while using drugs. Having oral sex with an infected person carries some possibility of infection if there are any cuts or sores in the mouth.

Some topics in this essay:
Retroviral Syndrome, PCP PCP, HIV AIDS, Merck Merck, Fund AIDS, University California, United Kingdom, CD4+ T-lymphocytes, Africa Six, AIDS Women, immune system, opportunistic infections, aids patients, weight loss, symptomatic phase, hiv positive, aids virus, lymph nodes, patients enter, contract disease, seen aids patients, loss immune cells, acute retroviral syndrome, white blood cells,