HIV/AIDS & Tumor Immunology

Slide 24

Lysis of tumor cells occurs after activation of the classical pathway. The classical pathway (and all the compliment pathways) end in lysis through the membrane attack complex.

She probably wont ask too detailed a question..but this seemed like a gimme.

Western Blot, IFA, and PCR all serve to confirm a diagnosis. ELISA is the first test done and gives a positive/negative/indeterminate result.

HIV has a high mutation rate due to reverse transcriptase errors. Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that allows HIV to convert its RNA into DNA, which can then be integrated into the host cell's genome. However, reverse transcriptase is prone to making errors during this process, leading to a high rate of mutations in the viral genome. These mutations can result in changes to the virus's proteins, making it more difficult for drugs to effectively target and treat the infection.

CBC (of Helper T cells) less than 200-300 indicates vulnerability to opportunistic infections. This is classified as category 3

Cytomegalovirus is a common opportunistic infection that can occur in the eye. It is a type of herpes virus that can cause inflammation and damage to the retina, leading to vision problems. It commonly affects individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or undergoing organ transplantation. Cytomegalovirus retinitis is the most common manifestation of this infection in the eye and can cause symptoms like blurry vision, floaters, and loss of peripheral vision. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent further complications and preserve vision.

The Western Blot test is used for AIDS diagnosis and it utilizes electrophoresis to separate and detect up to 9 different HIV viral proteins. This test is considered to be highly accurate and is often used as a confirmatory test after a positive result from an initial screening test like ELISA. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a molecular test used to detect the genetic material of the virus, while IFA (Immunofluorescence Assay) is a technique that uses fluorescent antibodies to detect viral proteins.

It is not classified as AIDS until the immunodeficiency reaches the point to where opportunistic infections are present. Also malignant neoplasms.

Reduced levels of MHC-1 molecules on the tumor would aid in tumor escape. MHC-1 molecules are responsible for presenting antigens to immune cells, which triggers an immune response against the tumor. When the levels of MHC-1 molecules are reduced, the tumor becomes less recognizable to the immune system, allowing it to escape immune surveillance and avoid destruction by immune cells. This helps the tumor to evade the immune response and continue to grow and spread.

Checking for presence of HIV antigen in the blood is the most common method. Slide 30

CD4+T cells are helper T Cells

Treatment is life long

The correct order of the HIV infection process of a Helper T cell is as follows: binding of gp120 to the cell surface receptor, followed by the entry of genomic viral DNA into the cell. The viral RNA is then reverse transcribed into proviral DNA, which is integrated into the host cell's DNA. Finally, the host cell machinery synthesizes new viral proteins.

CEA - Carcino embryonic antigens
AFP - Alpha fetoprotein.

RAS and p53 may be tumor associated antigens but are not oncofetal genes.