2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

Figure 1. Top 20 Countries of HIV Adult Rate in the World

(Hesse, 2022)

1.2 HIV Virus HIV interferes and attacks the body’s immune system which impacts the way in which it fights against infections. As of today, there is no cure for the virus, however, without necessary treatment and care, it can develop AIDS which is a life-threatening condition. When HIV is first contracted, it infects by attaching and fusing to host cells. This virus uses the cells properties to convert its RNA into DNA to replicate itself. Viruses cannot replicate on their own so, they rely on the host cell’s protein synthesis for replication. These replications will leave host cells to infect other cells (ipmglobal, 2016). HIV targets the T-helper cells in the body which are responsible for instructing

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