Skip to main content Skip to main content

Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives

HIV and AIDS

HIV and AIDS have emerged as an epidemic of staggering proportions, and one of today’s greatest challenges to scientists and health workers. This unit provides an overview of the human immune system and viral life cycle: and explores recent developments in the study of HIV and AIDS, the future global impact of the current infection levels, and the ethical issues surrounding current research and treatments.

ONLINE TEXTBOOK
The online textbook chapters support and extend the content of each video. The Web version can be viewed as a full chapter or as individual sub-sections, and includes links to glossary terms and other related material.

ANIMATIONS & IMAGES
Explore the archive of animations, images and figures from the videos and online textbook. All of the images can be viewed online or downloaded as jpg files.

EXPERT INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS
Read profiles of the expert scientists featured in the video and find the complete transcripts of the interviews conducted for this unit.
Edward A. Berger, Ph.D.
Laurie Garret, Journalist
Jay Levy, M.D.
Erik von Muller
David Weiner, Ph.D.

Chapter Contents

Introduction
The Immune System
The Central Role of Helper T Cells
The Structure and Life Cycle of HIV
Progression of HIV Infection
Treatments Based on Understanding the Viral Life Cycle
The Challenges of Vaccine Development
Social Obstacles to Controlling HIV

Unit Glossary

Antigen
A substance, often a protein or large polysaccharide, which is perceived as foreign by the body and stimulates an immune response. Components of microbes–such as cell walls, flagella, toxins, and the coats of viruses–can serve as antigens.

CD4
A protein on the surface of certain leukocytes. Helper T cells are among the cell types that possess CD4. CD4 is involved in the binding of HIV to its host cells.

Cellular Immunity
The arm of the immune system directed toward antigens associated with cells, such as those expressed by virally infected cells or cancers. The T cells of cellular immunity respond specifically to such antigens.

gp120
Glycoproteins with a molecular weight of 120,000 daltons that are part of the peg-like structures protruding from the surface of HIV.
HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy)
A combination of three or more anti-HIV drugs used in the treatment of HIV.
Humoral immunity
The arm of the immune system directed toward circulating antigens such as bacteria, toxins and viruses that have not entered cells. Antibodies secreted by plasma cells mediate humoral immunity.
Integrase
An HIV enzyme that facilitates the integration of viral DNA into the host cell’s chromosome.
Opsonin
A substance that, when bound to antigen, amplifies the normal phagocytic process.
Protease
An enzyme that facilitates the cleavage of proteins. In HIV, an enzyme that allows for the processing of newly translated polypeptides into the proteins that will be assembled into viral particles.
Provirus
Viral DNA that is incorporated into a host cell’s chromosome.

Unit Animations

  • HIV Receptors
    The two distinct co-receptors on the surface of T cells are CXCR4 and CCR5, both requiring CD4 for the entry of the HIV virus. CCR5 is the receptor used for entry in the asymptomatic phase; during the symptomatic phase the viruses can use the CXCR4 receptor.
    View Animation Still
  • HIV DNA Vaccine
    A brief description of how DNA might be used as a vaccine for HIV.
    View Quicktime Movie

Related Resources

Book
Garrett, L. 1994. The coming plague – Newly emerging diseases in a world out of balance. New York: Penguin Books.
A detailed book that provides insights into emerging infection through the stories of those intimately involved in a plethora of outbreaks worldwide.

Articles
Amborzia, J., and J. A. Levy. 1998. Epidemiology, natural history and pathogenesis of HIV infection. In Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 3d ed, ed. K.K. Holmes, P.F. Sparling, P.A. Mardh, S.M. Lemon, W.E. Stamm, P. Piot, and J.N. Wasserheit, 251–58. New York: McGraw-Hill.
A review of the transmission and clinical manifestations of HIV infection.

Cimmons, M. 2002. New prospects on the HIV vaccine scene. ASM News68(1):19-22.
An update from the American Society of Microbiology.

Cohen, J. 2002. Confronting the limits of success. Science 296:2320,
2320.
Discusses the successes and challenges regarding HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy).

Cohen, J. 2002. The high cost of poverty. Science 296:2324.
Puts AIDS in terms of dollars and cents.

Ezzel, C. 2002. Hope in a vial. Scientific American, June, 38.
An overview of the challenges developing HIV vaccines.

Piot, P. 1998 The science of AIDS: A tale of two worlds. Science 280:1844-45.
One of the essays on science and society presented in Science. The essays are directed to the educated lay reader, and can serve as the basis of discussion and debate in the classroom. This essay introduces the impact that policymakers and community members have on the progression of emerging diseases such as AIDS.

Series Directory

Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives

Credits

Produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting. 2003.
  • ISBN: 1-57680-733-9