Dr. Thiha - HIV Notes 2004

"HIV" "Infection"

HIV is a very small virus that causes the serious disease AIDS. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can be divided into HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-2 is not as serious as HIV-1 and has a much lower incidence. Therefore, when using HIV, it refers only to HIV-1. All references to HIV in this book also refer to HIV-1. HIV-1 is further divided into three main groups. These are:

1. M ( M) group

2. N group

3. O (0) group.

Of the three major groups, group M is the most common. 99% of HIV/AIDS patients are caused by group M. 1% of HIV/AIDS patients are caused by group N and group O.

The M group of HIV-1 is further divided into 11 subtypes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K. HIV-2 is not further divided into any subtypes, but only 6 subtypes: A, B, C, D, E, F.

The M group of HIV-1 is further divided into 11 subtypes, A to K, based on genetic principles. The A and B subtypes may have different genetic makeups. Therefore, even if an HIV vaccine were to be developed, it would not be able to protect against all of these subtypes. Only specific vaccines could be developed for each.

HIV strains also vary depending on the region where they occur. In the United States, the most common strain is strain “B.” In Southeast Asia, the most common strain is strain “E,” and in India and the People’s Republic of China, the most common strain is strain “C.” In parts of Africa, all 11 of these strains are found.

The main modes of transmission also differ depending on the strains. Strains “B” and “D” are mainly transmitted through homosexual intercourse, strain A is mainly transmitted through heterosexual intercourse, and strain “E” is mainly transmitted through intravenous drug use.

It is said that these variants arise from repeated transmission from one person to another. HIV has been circulating for more than 40 years. In 1959, more than 1,200 blood samples were taken for research in the Congo. After the work was done, the blood samples were frozen. When the AIDS epidemic began in the 1990s, these blood samples were tested and found to be HIV-positive. Therefore, it is undeniable that HIV had been circulating among the population of Central Africa for decades before 1959.

There have been various theories about the history of HIV in the past. Some believe that HIV has been around for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian literature and pyramids have depicted patients suffering from immunodeficiency. Therefore, it is believed that it originated from a single virus that spread rapidly.

There are also those who believe that HIV came from other planets in the universe. There are links between UFO crashes and HIV transmission. Some experts also believe that it was transmitted through domestic cats. There is no evidence for these theories. Some scientists believe that HIV originated from the production of biological warfare. Since 1985, the Soviets have accused the United States of producing HIV. The HIV virus was produced at the US Biological Weapons Laboratory in Maryland. The HIV virus was tested on homosexual men in Haiti and other African countries. It is strongly alleged that the virus was spread through this. The United States has also vehemently denied this. This is unlikely. Because biological weapons testing only increased after 1960. HIV was already spreading before 1959.

There is only one strong theory about how HIV originated. That is, it was transmitted from monkeys. Today, most experts have come to accept this as a fact. In West and Central Africa, monkeys are commonly eaten as food. Monkey meat is widely sold in butcher shops. In addition, monkeys are kept as pets in some parts of Africa. People can contract the disease either by preparing it for cooking or by playing with domesticated monkeys.

In 1999 and 2000, Beatrice Hahn (University of Alabama) 2:6203€ 65 A team of researchers attempted to scientifically prove that HIV was transmitted from monkeys. They were able to present a strong evidence based on genetic principles. As a result, there is now less controversy about how HIV originated. At the same time, Bette Korber (Los Alamos National Laboratory) må:caos&sous A team of researchers estimated that HIV first entered humans around 1930.

HIV originated from the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which is transmitted to monkeys. HIV-1 was transmitted to chimpanzees in central Africa. HIV-2 was transmitted to the Soody Mangabey in West Africa. There are 11 different types of HIV-1, which vary depending on the region of the world. However, all 11 types are found in Africa, and no one can deny that HIV originated in Africa.

Although there are many different types of viruses, they all have some common characteristics. HIV is very small and cannot reproduce on its own. Therefore, it enters the human body and seeks new places to reproduce. Its purpose is to harm humans.