Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

<p>HPV is a sexually transmitted disease mainly targeted towards women. It is called Human Papiloma Virus for one simple reasons. In latin papilloma means butterfly, and once this virus sets it causes the vagina to grow warts in the shape of butterflies. HPV is a deadly disease however the virus itself does not directly cause trouble in the human body, its "side effects" do. This virus is a lisogen meaning that it penetrated the human genome and inserts itself into the DNA coding. Many viruses are like this however not all of them effect the DNA as negatively as the one. This virus manipulates the human DNA in such way that the cervical cells divide and grow cancer cells. So in a way this virus causes cervical cancer. However cervical cancer is not deadily either, in fact it can very easily be removed and followed by a series of treatments to cure it 100%. However ifleft undetected this virus can matastasize, or spread through the blood stream to more vital organs such as the kidneys. There are not many cures for HPV however it can easily be prevented by the practice of safe sex. The prevention is simple and crucial as if you contract this virus you have it for life and are put at danger of death. Another method of prevention is the vaccine which is highly recogmended. If you think you may have this disease immediately see a doctor and remember you are not alone look into some support groups like the one listed below.

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AIDS

AIDS is a lysogenic virus, which is mostly transfered sexually, however can be transfered via other methods such as blood to blood contact. The word lysogenic means that once you have the virus it embed's its genome into your's and you have it forever. AIDS has a really high mortality rate, as there is virtually no way to cure or prevent it. This is because the AIDS virus disguises itself as a T cell (a major immune cell which detects viruses and other intruders) thus it does not get identified as a threat. It disguises itself by draping a part of the T cell membrane onto itself, this also helps it bind to the T cell receptors. Once it has binded to the T cell receptor, the virus penetrates the cell, and the cell's nucleus exposing the DNA. The virus carries a series of enzymes with it, one of which is integrase, this helps the virus embed it's genome into the cell's genome. The cell is not aware of this so it undergoes mitosis (reproduction) and produces millions of baby viruses which bud out of the cell taking parts of the membrane with them for cover. And the cycle goes on. However theoretically AIDS is not what kills the patient other diseases such as kaposi's sarcoma this occurs because most of the immune cells detecting intruders are invaded by the AIDS virus and can't function. For more information, support, and donations click this link.