Why are Women’s
HIV & Aids Cases on
the Rise?
by
Richard D. Ramirez
Definition of HIV
• HIV stands for “Human Immunodeficiency
Virus.”
• What’s a Virus?
• A virus is a non-living organism or inert
chemical, usually ultramicroscopic…
• Consisting of nucleic acid, either RNA or
DNA, within a case of protein…
• But needs a living (Host) cell to
reproduce…
AIDS Defined
• AIDS – “Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome”
• A condition that proceeds the HIV virus…
• Disabling the Human Immune System…
• Compromising the body’s defense
mechanism
• Making the body susceptible opportunistic
diseases…
A Brief History on
AIDS
• In 1981 – The first cases of AIDS where reported and
classified as Gay Related Immune Deficiency or Grid.
• Scientists later found evidence that the disease existed
in the world for some years prior, i.e.,
• Subsequent analysis of a blood sample of a Bantu man,
who died of an unidentified illness in the Belgian Congo
in 1959, made him the first confirmed case of an HIV
infection.
The History Continues
• From 1989 – 1998, this virus continues to
spread across the U.S.
• Devastating the woman’s population of this
nation.
• In 1998 the reported cases of women living with
AIDS had risen to 54,322
• As of the end of 2005, an estimated 4.9 million
people had become newly infected with HIV /
AIDS.
• Women represent nearly half (46%) of adults
living with HIV / AIDS worldwide.
When did this Virus
first get classified?
• 1981 – CDC was alerted of occurrences that led
to the identification of a new disease.
• Because the majority of patients were
homosexuals, lifestyle was quickly associated
as the cause.
• By 1993 CDC releases a new definition for
AIDS.
• Stating, that the Center for Disease Control
expected 111% increase of diagnosed due to the
new definition.
The Risky Sexual
Transmission Theory
• Most of the HIV + Women
have been infected;
• In there their own homes,
• In their own Beds,
• By their husbands…
• Culture and Economics
are other contributing
factors.
• As well as the lack of
preventive education on
HIV/AIDS transmission…
The HIV virus is a
respecter of no one…
• 20th Century AIDS is no
longer being seen as a
disease that effect only the
gay community.
• There are high risk social
behaviors that are being
addressed and associated in
the spread of this deadly
disease.
Meet Chris, She became a
statistic in 2004
Women make up nearly half of the
37.2 million adults living with
AIDS
What are the Odds
• Women are
biologically,
economically and
socially more
vulnerable to HIV
infection than men,
with studies showing
they can be up to 2.5
times more likely to
be infected
As of 2004 there were
an estimated 90,000
reported cases of HIV
in South America..
HIV & AIDS are running
ramped across Central
and South America
“What Were We
thinking?”
California is also
displaying increases in
reported HIV cases across
the state…
And our county, Tulare
County is no exception…
Conquest of the
Beast
Pseudomembranous Candidinsis
Acanthamoeba Infection
Herpes Simplex Virus
Severe HIV Wasting Disease
A silhouette of the AIDS
virus
• This is an approximate
scaled image of the AIDS
virus in contrast to a THelper cell…
• The arrow indicates the
actual AIDS virus…
• The stubby objects seen
on the surface of the TCell are receptor…
• This the Beast in
motion…
“the incurable beast”
Simplified HIV Life-Cycle
New virus
particle buds
from cell.
Virus
attaches to
cell surface
New viral
components
congregate
at cell
surface
Virus core
enters cell
and its RNA
is converted
to DNA
New viral
RNA
New viral
Protein
Cell
nucleus
RNA copies are made
which leave the nucleus
Viral DNA enters nucleus
and combines with host
cell DNA
HIV Protease
• The HIV protease is
an AIDS virus
enzyme.
• Critical for virus
replication.
• The HIV protease has
two strands of
proteins with no
covalent connections
Peptide Inhibitor
Dr. Betty Korber and
fellow researcher
John Mokili, have
worked to clarify the
evolutionary tree of
HIV subtypes and
strains.
Consensus
copy
“the biological frontiers”
• Immunology and its complexities are currently the focus
of scientist and researchers.
• Genetics, molecular, and cellular research continue to
present broader possibilities for researchers.
• Yet there is no known cure for HIV / AIDS.
• Stopping the (HIV Virus) is the biological frontiers, left for
both the science communities and researchers.
• Until this time the Beast will continue to destroy human
life, devastate families, and over shadow our world with
the possibility of contracting such a killing disease.
Work Cited
•
Alcena, Valiere, M.d. F.a.c.p. Women's Health and Wellnes for the Millennium
(AIDS in Women in the USA). 1st ed. White Plains, N.Y.: Le Negre, 2005. 189-192.
•
Buckley, Micheal R., and Kelly J. Henning. HIV Infection in Primary Care. 4th ed.
Boston: Elserier, 2002. chpt. 1-3,12.
•
Campbell, Neil A., Jane B. Reece, Martha R. Taylor, and Eric J. Simon. Biology
Concepts and Connections. Custom Edition for the College of the Sequoias ed.
San Francisco, Ca.: Benjamin Cummings, 2005. 498-499.
•
Dod. "Threat Assessment." U.S. Military HIV Research Program. 5 Aug. 2004. U.S.
Department of Defense. 11 Mar. 2006
<http://www.hivresearch.org/areas/threat.html>.
•
"HIV / AIDS Among Women." CDC Divisions of HIV / AIDS Prevention. 02 Dec. 2004.
CDC National Prevention Information Network. 11 Mar. 2006
<http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/women.htm>.
•
Korber, Bette. "HIV Molecular Immunology." Immuno@Lanl.Gov. 18 Aug. 2005. U.S.
Department of Energy. 6 Mar. 2006
<http://www.hiv.lanl.gov/content/immunology/index.html>.
•
Merigan, Thomas Jr. C. AIDS Medicine. 1st ed. New York, New York: Williams &
Wilkins, 1994. 756.
•
"People Living with HIV / AIDS in California by Counties." California
Department of Health/Office of AIDS Prevention. 01 Feb. 2006. Department of
Health Services. 21 Mar. 2006 <http://www.dhs.CA.gov/AIDS/>.
•
"People Living with HIV / AIDS in California by Counties." California
Department of Health/Office of AIDS Prevention. 01 Feb. 2006. Department of
Image Cited
• Statistics/ Graphics/ Images/1264 1-9htm. 2004.
Washington D.C., New York.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/graphics/images/1264 /19htm. Center for Disease Control. 21 Mar. 2006
<http://cdc.gov/hiv/graphics/images/1264/1264-19htm>.
• Women and AIDS.
http://www.tidings.com/2004/1203/aidscrs.htm.
AIDS Support Group. 2 Apr. 2006.
• Women are Now Making Up Nearly Half of
Newly Infected Cases. UNAIDS. 2 Apr. 2006
<http://www.msmnpa.org/8wados.htm>.
• World AIDS Day2004. 2004. New York City. City
of New York Health and Services Agency. 11
Mar. 2006
<http://www.cnyhsa.com/hiv/aids_awareness_eve