Why it’s so hard to cure HIV/AIDS - Janet Iwasa

Summary

In 2008, a man was uniquely cured of HIV, a milestone in over 70 million cases. HIV, a retrovirus, infects immune cells, particularly helper T cells, leading to AIDS if untreated. While antiretroviral therapy can manage HIV and prevent AIDS, it requires lifelong medication adherence. Challenges like global access disparities persist, yet research into activating latent HIV for destruction and gene-editing to remove viral DNA offers hope for a universal cure.

Takeaways

• 🌟 In 2008, a man was cured of HIV, marking the first and only known case to date.
• 🔬 HIV primarily spreads through bodily fluids, with unprotected sex and contaminated needles being the main modes of transmission.
• 🏥 HIV targets the immune system, specifically helper T cells, which are crucial for defending against infections.
• 💊 Antiretroviral therapy can manage HIV levels and prevent progression to AIDS, allowing most HIV-positive individuals to lead long, healthy lives.
• 🔄 HIV is a retrovirus that integrates its genetic material into the host cell's DNA, complicating eradication efforts.
• 🛑 Current drugs can't reach HIV that hides in the DNA of healthy T cells, which can remain dormant for years before reactivating.
• 🌐 Access to life-saving antiretroviral therapies is limited, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where only one in three HIV-positive patients received treatment in 2012.
• 🚫 Political, economic, and cultural barriers make it difficult to implement effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies worldwide.
• 🔬 Researchers are exploring new approaches to a cure, including drugs that activate HIV in dormant cells and genetic tools to remove HIV DNA from cell genomes.
• 💡 The existence of a single cured case offers hope and evidence that an HIV cure is possible, potentially leading to a definitive solution.

Q & A

What was the significant event that occurred in 2008 regarding HIV?

In 2008, a man was cured of HIV, marking the first and, so far, the only instance of a cure in over 70 million cases.

Why is HIV difficult to cure compared to diseases like malaria and hepatitis C?

HIV is difficult to cure because it is a retrovirus that can integrate its genetic code into the genome of infected cells, making it challenging to eliminate completely without affecting healthy cells.

How does HIV primarily spread and what are the common modes of transmission?

HIV spreads through exchanges of bodily fluids, with unprotected sex and contaminated needles being the leading causes of transmission. It cannot spread through air, water, or casual contact.

Which immune cells are targeted by HIV and what is the role of these cells in the body?

HIV particularly targets helper T cells, which are part of the immune system and help defend the body against bacterial and fungal infections.

What are the symptoms experienced during the first stage of HIV infection?

During the first stage of HIV infection, patients often experience flu-like symptoms, but they are typically not yet in mortal danger.

What is AIDS and how does it relate to HIV infection?

AIDS is the stage of HIV infection when T cell counts drop too low, putting patients in serious danger of contracting deadly infections that a healthy immune system can normally handle.

How do antiretroviral drugs help manage HIV and prevent the progression to AIDS?

Antiretroviral drugs are highly effective at managing levels of HIV and preventing T cell counts from getting low enough for the disease to progress to AIDS. They work by preventing the viral genome from being copied and incorporated into a host cell's DNA or by preventing the virus from maturing or assembling.

Why must HIV-positive patients continue taking their medication for life?

HIV-positive patients must keep taking their drugs for the rest of their lives because without them, the virus can make a deadly comeback, as it can hide in the DNA of healthy T cells and reactivate.

What is the current global access to antiretroviral therapy for HIV patients?

In 2012, antiretrovirals reached only about one in three HIV-positive patients in Sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for over 70% of HIV patients worldwide, indicating a significant gap in access to life-saving therapies.

What are some of the barriers to effective HIV prevention and treatment?

Effective prevention and treatment of HIV are hindered by a mix of political, economic, and cultural barriers, making it difficult to ensure widespread access to therapies and prevention methods.

What are some promising research approaches towards finding a cure for HIV?

Promising research approaches include using a drug to activate all cells harboring the HIV genetic information to flush the virus out into the open, and using genetic tools to cut the HIV DNA out of cells' genomes altogether.