Mobius Disease Project: Benchmark 1                                                                                                                

Michael Asmus

Identification

a. HIV means Human Immunodeficiency Virus.1

AIDS means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.1

Robert Gallo and Luc Montagnier discovered HIV separately. The name is a compromise between

their two designations for the disease.1

b. AIDS is caused by HIV, which attacks and destroys the immune system. HIV can be contracted

when the bodily fluids of an infected person come in contact with the fluids of another person. It is

most commonly caused by unprotected sex with an infected person, or by the sharing of equipment

used to prepare illicit drugs for injection.1

c. AIDS is the late stage of HIV, when the immune system is severely damaged.3 HIV evolved from

SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus), which is a similar virus that only attacks simians.1 HIV has a

high rate of mutation, with many substrands.4

d. HIV is descended from SIV, and is one of many immunodeficiency viruses. There are two types

of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2.1

e. Only humans are susceptible to HIV (it is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, after all), but there

are other immunodeficiency viruses for other types of organisms. These include SIV (Simian

Immunodeficiency Virus) and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus).1

Demographics

a. HIV/AIDS is not associated with any particular region; it is widespread enough to be considered

ubiquitous.7

b. HIV affects about .6% of the world's population, and has killed more than 25 million people

since its discovery in 1981.4

c. Most people are equally vulnerable, but some have a combination of two mutated genes that make

them virtually immune. These people are most likely to be of Northern European descent.5

Impact

a. HIV and AIDS have caused an increase in promotion of safe sexual behavior; for example, in

1987, the UK and other countries began to act to raise awareness of AIDS. A world AIDS day has

been created. The Global Fund has been created to fight AIDS, HIV, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, and

to help reduce poverty.6

b. HIV and AIDS were responsible for 3.1% of the estimated 57 million deaths worldwide in 2008,

and continue to be leading causes of death in low- and middle-income countries. 2