VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA

SHOLINGANALLUR

SENIOR SCHOOL
CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
BIOLOGY (044)
PROJECT REPORT
ON

AIDS
2024 - 2025
NAME - ASHVATH KANAGARAJ S
ROLL NO -
CLASS - XII
SECTION - B
GROUP - PCMB
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this BIOLOGY Project on the topic AIDS has been successfully completed

by -STUDENT NAME- of class XII (BIOLOGY – 044), Roll.no…………………. at

Velammal Vidyalaya, Sholinganallur for the partial fulfilment of this project as a part of Senior

School Certificate Examination-CBSE, New Delhi for the academic Year 2024– 2025.

Date: …………….

Signature of Principal Signature of the Guide

Submitted for SSCE 2024-2025, BIOLOGY Practical examination on ………………….

Signature of the Signature of the

Internal Examiner External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Apart from the efforts taken by me, the success of the project depends largely on the
encouragement and guidelines of many others. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude
to the people who have been instrumental in the successful completion of this project.

I express deep sense of gratitude to almighty God for giving me the strength to complete
the project successfully.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to my parents for the constant encouragement while

carrying out this project.

I express my deep sense of gratitude to the luminary, the Ms.BANUMATHI L.S, who
has been continuously motivating and extending a helping hand to us.

My sincere thanks to Mr. VINAYAK A S a guide, mentor, above all a friend, who
critically reviewed my project and guided me during the implementation of the project.

The guidance and support received from all the members who contributed, was vital
for the success of the project. I am grateful for their constant support and help.

ASHVATH KANAGARAJ

XII B
AIDS
 INDEX
S.NO CONTENTS PAGE NO.

1. Introduction

2. Structure of HIV

3. Life cycle of HIV

4. Mode of transmission

5. Symptoms of HIV

6. Diagnosis of HIV

7. Treatment of HIV

8. Prevention and control

9. Conclusion

10. Bibliography
S.NO FIGURES PAGE NO.
1. HIV infection all around the world
2. Difference between HIV and AIDS
3. Structure of HIV
4. HIV replication
5. HIV transmission from mother
6. HIV transmission
7. Symptoms of acute HIV
8. Timeline of HIV symptom
9. HIV testing options
10. Diagnosis of HIV
11. Treatment for AIDS
12 Prevention and Control
13 Global AIDS – related deaths
14 World AIDS day
INTRODUCTION
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a
disease that damages the body’s immune system so it cannot fight certain
infections and cancers. This is because of a virus called HIV- human
immunodeficiency virus. This virus attacks the human cells that help the body
to fight infections, make a person more vulnerable to other infections and
disease. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV:
most commonly during unprotected sex or through sharing injection dry
equipment.

HIV/AIDS has claimed over 25 million lives in the last 30 years. It's
estimated that over 34 million people are living with HIV. One of the biggest
problems associated with HIV/AIDS is misinformation.

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 The difference between HIV and AIDS is that HIV is a virus that weakens
your immune system. AIDS is a condition that can happen as a result of an HIV
infection when your immune system is severely weakened. can’t get AIDS if
you aren’t infected with HIV. Thanks to treatment that slows down the effects of
the virus, not everyone with HIV progresses to AIDS. But without treatment,
almost all people living with HIV will advance to AIDS

A retrovirus is a virus that works backward from the way human cells do.
Human cells have instructions (DNA) that send a message (RNA) to make
building blocks for your body (proteins). Retroviruses have their instructions
written on RNA. When a retrovirus invades your cells, it changes its RNA to
look like your cells’ instructions (DNA). Then it cuts your cells’ DNA and
inserts its instructions into them. Your cell then acts as though the virus’
instructions are its own. HIV is a retrovirus. All viruses invade your cells and
then use your cells’ “machinery” to make more copies of themselves. HIV not
only uses your cells to make more of itself, but it also inserts its instructions into
your DNA.
The human body can’t get rid of HIV and no effective HIV cure
exists. So, once you have HIV, you have it for life. Luckily, however,
effective treatment with HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy

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or ART) is available. If taken as prescribed, HIV medicine can reduce
the amount of HIV in the blood (also called the viral load) to a very
low level. This is called viral suppression. If a person’s viral load is so
low that a standard lab can’t detect it, this is called having an
undetectable viral load. People with HIV who take HIV medicine as
prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long
and healthy lives and will not transmit HIV to their HIV-negative
partners through sex. Because HIV works backward to insert its
instructions into your DNA, it is called a retrovirus.
As a result, different types of viral and bacterial pathogens can invade
his/her body and different types of diseases and infections, affecting different
body parts and organs can be developed. Hence, AIDS is not a single disease
but a group of diseases and that's why it is called a syndrome. A syndrome is a
group of signs and symptoms that are known to go together but don't have a
clear cause, course, or treatment path. A disease is a disorder that affects how
your body functions and is more likely to have a known cause, a distinct course,
and established treatments. There are two main types - HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-2
is typically found in Africa and parts of Asia. HIV-2 is typically found in Africa
and parts of Asia. Asia can thus no longer be considered free of HIV-2, and
testing for HIV-2 appears mandatory, at least in India. Worldwide, when people
refer to HIV they are usually referring to HIV-1.

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 STRUCTURE OF HIV
It is around 100 to 120 nm in diameter (around 60 times smaller than a
red blood cell) and roughly spherical. It is a 20sided enveloped virus of the
lentivirus subfamily of retroviruses. HIV is different in structure from other
retroviruses. Two viral strands of RNA are found in the core surrounded by
protein outer coat. The outer envelope contains a lipid matrix within which
specific viral glycoproteins are embedded and these knob-like structures are
responsible for binding to the target cell.
The outer shell of the virus is known as the viral envelope. Embedded in
the viral envelope is a complex protein is known as envelope (env) which
consists of an outer protruding cap glycoprotein (GP) 120, and a stem gp41.
Within the viral envelope is an HIV protein called p17 (matrix), and within this
is the viral core or capsid, which is made up of another viral protein p24 (core
antigen).

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 Three main structural genes are Group Specific Antigen (Gag), Envelope
(Env), and Polymerase (Pol).
• Group-Specific Antigen (Gag): Gag proteins are encoded by the gag
gene, and provide structural elements of the virus.
• Envelope (Env) gene codes for envelope proteins gp160, gp120, and
gp41. These polyproteins will eventually be cleaved by proteases to
become HIV envelope glycoproteins gp120 and gp41.
gp41 is a transmembrane glycoprotein antigen that spans the inner and
outer membranes and attaches to gp120 and both are involved with the
fusion and attachment of HIV to CD4 antigen on host cells.
• Polymerase (Pol) codes for p66 and p51 subunits of reverse transcriptase
and p31 an endonuclease. They are located in the core, close to nucleic
acids, and responsible for conversion of viral RNA into DNA, integration
of DNA with the host DNA.
the first During step, HIV attaches to the susceptible host cell. The site of
attachment is the CD4 antigen found on a variety of cells, helper T cells,
macrophages, monocytes, B cells, microglial brain cells, and intestinal cells. T
cells infected later on.

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 LIFE CYCLE OF HIV
The HIV virus attacks the macrophages cells in the human body.
• RNA is replicated to form viral DNA by the enzyme reverse
transcriptase.
• Viral DNA now gets incorporated into the host cell’s DNA and directs
the infected cells to produce viruses.
• Macrophages continue to produce virus particles and function as HIV
factories.

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 • The virus particles enter helper T-lymphocytes in the blood, where they
continue to replicate and produce viral progenies.
• The number of helper T-lymphocytes progressively decreases in the body
of the infected person. With the decrease in the number of T-cells,
immunity also decreases. The person is unable to produce an immune
response even against common bacteria.
The viral DNA gets incorporated into the host cell's DNA and directs the
infected cells to produce virus particles. Infected cells survive while the
viruses are being replicated. This is evident as the virus uses the host cell
machinery for their replication.
HIV Replication: Steps in the HIV Replication Cycle: Fusion of the HIV cell
to the host cell surface.Cell Entry, HIV RNA, reverse transcriptase, integrase,
and other viral proteins enter the host cell.Viral DNA is formed by reverse
transcription.Viral DNA is transported across the nucleus and integrates into the
host DNA.New viral RNA is used as genomic RNA to make viral proteins.New
viral RNA and proteins move to cell surface and a new, immature, HIV virus
forms.Virus maturation and protease release of individual HIV proteins.
First the HIV viron binds to host cell, after binding the virus and cell fuse,
which releases the various enzymes HIV needs to reverse transcribe and
integrate into the host genome.
The reverse transcription of HIV viral RNA to DNA is error prone, causing HIV
to have a high mutation rate. This makes it difficult to design treatments against
HIV.
The HIV provirus can stay dormant in the host genome for years. It may
become active when the host T cell is itself activated by fighting an infection
that the body is facing.
Understanding the HIV life cycle will help in providing effective treatments
against it.

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 MODE OF TRANSMISSION
HIV is spread mostly through four body fluids:
1. Semen
2. Vaginal fluid
3. Blood
4. Breast milk
HIV is NOT spread through:
1. Tears
2. Sweat
3. Faeces
4. Urine

How is HIV spread through blood?

You can become infected if you have contact with the blood of someone who is
infected with HIV. Blood-borne infection with HIV can occur through:
1. Sharing injection equipment when shooting drugs
2. Getting tattoos or body piercings with unsterilized needles
3. Accidental needle sticks
4. Blood transfusions
5. Splashing blood in your eyes

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HIV is NOT spread by blood passed through insect bites. If you inject drugs, the
best thing to do is to use new or sterilized injection equipment every time. You
can also take a daily medication called pre-exposure prophylaxis to lower your
risk of HIV.

Infection can pass from HIV positive pregnant women to their babies in the
womb and during birth. Taking anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy and childbirth
dramatically lowers the risk of a baby becoming infected with HIV. After birth,
transmission can occur through breast milk of infected women. The highest risk
may be in the early months after birth. It is recommended that HIV-positive new
mothers bottle-feed their babies rather than breast-feed. If you are an HIV-
positive woman and intend to become pregnant, or you find out that you are
HIV positive during your pregnancy, talk to your doctor immediately about
ways to minimize the chances that your baby will become infected, too.

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 SYMPTOMS OF HIV
• Dry cough or shortness of breath,
• Difficult or painful swallowing,
• Diarrhoea lasting for more than a week,
• White spots or unusual blemishes in and around the mouth,
• Pneumonia-like symptoms,
• Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F (38ºC) for several
weeks,
• Vision loss,
• Nausea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting,
• Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or
inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids,
• Seizures or lack of coordination,
• Neurological disorders such as depression, memory loss, and
confusion,
• Severe headaches and neck stiffness,
• Coma

Infants with HIV:

• Failure to thrive,
• Persistent oral candidiasis,
• Hepatosplenomegaly,
• Lymphadenopathy,
• Recurrent diarrhoea,
• Recurrent bacterial infections,
• Abnormal neurologic findings.

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High risk category:
• Person who has multiple sex partners.
• Durg addict who take intravenous drug.
• Individual who requires repeated blood transfusion
• Children born to HIV infected mothers.
There is always a time lag between the infection and appearance of AIDS
symptoms. This period may vary from few months to many years.

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12
 DIAGNOSIS OF HIV
There are several types of tests that screen blood (and sometimes saliva) for
HIV infection. New tests can detect the presence of HIV antigen, a protein, up
to 20 days earlier than standard tests. It is confirmed by demonstrating certain
serological tests.
Performance of medical tests is often described in terms of:
• Sensitivity:
The percentage of the results that will be positive when HIV is present.
• Specificity:
The percentage of the results that will be negative when HIV is not
present. All diagnostic tests have limitations, and sometimes their use may
produce erroneous or questionable results.
• False-positive:
The test incorrectly indicates that HIV is present in a noninfected
person.
Testing every three to six months is advised for people who belong to
groups more likely to be diagnosed with HIV, including:
• Injecting drug users
• Sexually active men who have sex with men
• Trans people, especially Black trans women and transfeminine people
(people assigned male at birth but identify as female)
• People who exchange sex for money
• Anyone who engages in sex without adequate protection, including sex
without condoms, or sex with multiple partners

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 .
The most common HIV tests look for HIV antibodies in the body, rather than
looking for HIV itself.

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ELISA:
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was the first
screening test commonly employed for HIV. ELISA tests use blood, oral fluid,
or urine to detect HIV antibodies. If the result from either of these tests is
positive, will need to take another test, called a Western blot test, to confirm that
result. It can take up to two weeks to confirm a positive result.
Western blot test:
Like the ELISA procedure, the western blot is an antibody detection
test. However, unlike the ELISA method, the viral proteins are separated first
and immobilized. In subsequent steps, the binding of serum antibodies to
specific HIV proteins is visualized.
Antigen tests:
These tests are not as common as antibody tests, but they can be used to
diagnose HIV infection earlier from 1-3 weeks after first infected with HIV.
Antigen tests require a blood sample.
PCR test (Polymerase chain reaction test):
This test detects the genetic material of HIV itself, and can identify HIV
in the blood within 2-3 weeks of infection.
Babies born to HIV-positive mothers are tested with a special PCR test because
their blood contains their mother’s HIV antibodies for several months. This
means they would test HIV-positive on a standard antibody test but a PCR test
can determine whether the babies have HIV themselves.

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 TREATMENT FOR AIDS
Therapeutic Approach to HIV Infection:
There is currently no cure for AIDS or HIV infection. Although
antiretroviral treatment can suppress HIV and can delay AIDS-related illness for
many years to live a long and healthy life, it cannot clear the virus completely.
A combination of antiretroviral drugs, called antiretroviral therapy
(ART), also known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), is very
effective in reducing the amount of HIV in the bloodstream. This is measured
by the viral load (how much free virus is found in the blood). Preventing the
virus from reproducing (replicating) can improve T-cell counts and help the
immune system recover from HIV infection.
In 1987, a drug called Azidothymidine (AZT) became the first
approved treatment for HIV disease. Since then, approximately 30 drugs have
been approved to treat people living with HIV/AIDS, and more are under
development. Example: Stavudine, Zalcitabine etc.

The classes of anti-HIV drugs include:

• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs):
NNRTIs disable a protein needed by HIV to make copies of itself.
Examples include Efavirenz, Etravirine, and Nevirapine.
• Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs):
NRTIs are faulty versions of building blocks that HIV needs to make
copies of themselves. Examples include Abacavir and the combination drugs
Emtricitabine and Tenofovir and Lamivudine and Zidovudine.
• Protease inhibitors (PIs):

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 PIs disable protease, another protein that HIV needs to make copies of
itself. Examples include Atazanavir, Darunavir and Ritonavir.
• Entry or fusion inhibitors:
These drugs block HIV’s entry into CD4 cells. Example include
Enfuvirtide and Maraviroc.
• Integrase inhibitors:
It is a disabled integrase, a protein that HIV uses to infect CD4+ T
cells. The most common integrase inhibitor is Raltegravir.
Advantages of HIV Antiretroviral Therapy:
1. Improved Health:
Antiretroviral therapy can significantly enhance the health of those
with HIV by lowering the HIV viral load, allowing the immune system to
recover and thereby slowing the advancement of the disease.
2. Decreased Risk Transmission:
ART Therapy lowers the amount of virus in the body, reducing the
risk of transmitting HIV to others, and enabling HIV positive individuals to
have safe and intimate relationships with their partners.
1. Longer Life Expectancy:
With the proper and consistent use of ART Therapy, people with
HIV can expect to live long and healthy lives

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 PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Certain educational and motivational programs can effectively reduce the spread
of HIV and AIDS.

Safe sex practice:

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 Such as using latex condoms are effective in preventing HIV
transmission. But there is a risk of getting the infection, even with the use of
condoms.
Abstain:
(Abstain from sex) Not having vaginal, anal, or oral sex is the surest
way to avoid HIV. Abstinence or delay of sexual onset can reduce transmission
rate especially in the young population who have not started the sexual activity.
Drug abuse and needle sharing:
Intravenous drug use is an important factor in HIV transmission in
developed countries. Sharing needles can expose users to HIV and other viruses.
Strategies such as needle exchange programs are used to reduce the infections
caused by drug abuse.
Body fluid exposure:
Exposure to HIV can be controlled by employing precautions to
reduce the risk of exposure to contaminated blood. At all times, health care
workers should use barriers (gloves, masks, protective eyewear, shields, and
gowns). Frequent and thorough washing of the skin immediately after being
contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids can reduce the chance of
infection.
Pregnancy:
Anti-HIV medicines can harm the unborn child. But an effective
treatment plan can prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby. Precautions
have to be taken to protect the baby’s health. Breastfeeding may have to give
way to bottle feeding if the mother is infected.

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 CONCLUSION
AIDS are some of the infectious diseases which are fatal. AIDS was first
reported in 1981 and in the last twenty-five years or so, it has spread all over the
world killing more than 25 million peoples. In our country the National AIDS
Control Organisation (NACO) and other non-governmental organisation
(NGOs) are doing a lot to educate people about AIDS. WHO has started a
number of programmes to prevent AIDS.

Infection with HIV or having AIDS is something that should not be hidden-
since then, the infection may spread to many more people. HIV/ AIDS-infected
people need help and sympathy instead of being shunned by society. Unless
society recognises it as a problem to be dealt with in a collective manner- the
chances of wider spread of the disease increase manifold. It is a malady that can
only be tackled, by the society and medical fraternity acting together, to prevent
the spread of the disease.

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 Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day.
People around the world unite to show support for people living with and
affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. World
AIDS Day was started by WHO in 1988.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOLLOWING SOURCES:
1.NCERT
2.THE SILENT PATIENT
3.STAND BY ME
FOLLOWING WEBSITES:
1. https://byjus.com/biology/aids/
2. https://www.vedantu.com/biology/aids
3. https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/what-is-aids-describe-along-
with-symptoms-and-measures-of/
4. https://unacademy.com/content/cbse-class-12/study-
material/biology/aids/

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