As HIV can "trick" the drug
Since in the 1980s, was diagnosed with HIV / AIDS, scientists and doctors have managed to create drugs that stop the progression of the disease. HIV is no longer a fatal disease: highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) allows most patients to live with HIV for decades. This treatment affects to several viral proteins, inhibiting its reproduction.
When used HAART combination of several drugs, one prevents the penetration of the virus into the cells, the virus does not give a second copy its genetic material, it does not allow third integrate into the DNA of the infected cell, and the fourth assembly of new virus suppresses. If the patient is prescribed these drugs alone, the virus mutates rapidly and acquire a kind of immunity to the drug. If the drugs are taken at the same time, the virus will not be able to adapt to them.
However, after infection with HIV a person can not immediately identify the presence of disease. During this time the virus has time to penetrate into the cells of the immune system, particularly T-lymphocytes, and to embed a copy of its genetic material into their DNA. Ways to remove copies of HIV from the cells to date has not yet been invented. However, HAART prevents the further spread of the virus in the cells of the body. But, as it turned out, there are exceptions.
In the new study, scientists have discovered how the virus does manage, in some cases spread even with the combined treatment. Immune system cells - lymphocytes - are capable of very rapid proliferation (clonal expansion). This process occurs when a lymphocyte encounters a foreign protein or a microorganism. This results in a huge number of copies of the cell. As we found out the authors, if the T-lymphocyte has been infected with HIV as a result of clonal expansion of all the cells will be formed to carry in their DNA copy of the virus. The possibility of such a way of HIV transmission was assumed earlier, but the authors describe the study was the first to prove it in practice.
To date, the most effective way to combat HIV remains timely diagnosis. If you suspect of being infected with the virus should immediately consult a doctor. If HAART is assigned in the first days after infection, the virus has time to penetrate only a small number of cells and the risk of developing AIDS in their lifetime will be minimal.
When used HAART combination of several drugs, one prevents the penetration of the virus into the cells, the virus does not give a second copy its genetic material, it does not allow third integrate into the DNA of the infected cell, and the fourth assembly of new virus suppresses. If the patient is prescribed these drugs alone, the virus mutates rapidly and acquire a kind of immunity to the drug. If the drugs are taken at the same time, the virus will not be able to adapt to them.
However, after infection with HIV a person can not immediately identify the presence of disease. During this time the virus has time to penetrate into the cells of the immune system, particularly T-lymphocytes, and to embed a copy of its genetic material into their DNA. Ways to remove copies of HIV from the cells to date has not yet been invented. However, HAART prevents the further spread of the virus in the cells of the body. But, as it turned out, there are exceptions.
In the new study, scientists have discovered how the virus does manage, in some cases spread even with the combined treatment. Immune system cells - lymphocytes - are capable of very rapid proliferation (clonal expansion). This process occurs when a lymphocyte encounters a foreign protein or a microorganism. This results in a huge number of copies of the cell. As we found out the authors, if the T-lymphocyte has been infected with HIV as a result of clonal expansion of all the cells will be formed to carry in their DNA copy of the virus. The possibility of such a way of HIV transmission was assumed earlier, but the authors describe the study was the first to prove it in practice.
To date, the most effective way to combat HIV remains timely diagnosis. If you suspect of being infected with the virus should immediately consult a doctor. If HAART is assigned in the first days after infection, the virus has time to penetrate only a small number of cells and the risk of developing AIDS in their lifetime will be minimal.