Q: (Initially posted June 11, 2004) FROM STUDENT MEMBER JESSICA K. IN NJ
We were talking about viruses and bacteria in Biology today. I was wondering why it is so hard to find a cure for AIDS, and why HIV virus can stay dormant in a person for long periods of time without showing symptoms.

June 21, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR NHA LE IN TX
Hello Jessica,
AIDS is acquired immune deficient syndrome. HIV is
Human Immuno Virus. When the virus attacks the bodies, it
enters and destroys the T Helper cells. One of the main
component of the body's army of fighting diseases. So the
virus takes time to replicate (multiply) and carries out
its insidious activities inside our cells. It takes time
for the body to realize what happen and try to act. Once
that happens we produce antibodies that can be detected
from HIV testing. Sometimes viruses stay dormant inside
the cell. There are two life cycles of viruses. One is
the lytic cycle, where the virus inject its DNA inside the
cell and then replicate its DNA using our cells' machinery
and then burst open the cells to release its progeny
(babies). The other cycle is one where the DNA is
incorporated into our DNA and becomes part of our own.
This cycle is the lysogenic cycle, but when the time comes
it (the virus's DNA) will remove itself from our own DNA
and enter into the lytic cycle. The problem with AIDS is
that we do not die from being infested by the virus, but
rather, the virus act to weaken our immune system and allow
other diseases that are normally under control to be so
deadly. People of AIDS die from secondary infection and
its a terrible disease. I love to study about AIDS, and
there is a lot of current research into AIDS. The problem
i think with a worlwide cure for AIDS is money. Too much
money needs to be spent and not a lot of profit to be
reaped if a worldwide drug like the "triple cocktail" to be
available for everyone. There's tons of other information
to be found online and in the news, if you are interested.
Hope this helps.
********************
June 16, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR MINI VARUGHESE IN MD
See this website for info on HIV and why making a vaccine is so difficult.
http://health.nih.gov/result.asp/15
Thank you,
Mini