(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-01-25)
Cavallaro, Alexandra Giovanna
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a subgroup of a retrovirus that causes acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is a progressive failure of the immune system.
Millions of dollars have been donated for the research of HIV and how the virus works and
effects the different systems of the body. HIV infects cells that are crucial components to the
immune system and therefore eventually leads to the loss of cell-mediated immunity if left
untreated.
The structure of the HIV retrovirus consists of two copies of single-stranded RNA, which
produces the nine proteins that HIV expresses. Since HIV enters a wide range of cells, multiple
tissues are negatively altered. Previous research determined the HIV-1 Transgenic (Tg) rat is an
appropriate model for experimentation due to the fact that HIV-1 viral genes they expressed as
well as the immune system’s response to outside invaders was very similar to humans.
To determine the effects of HIV proteins, bone histomorphometry was analyzed by
taking micron samples of the harvested cortical bones. Comparing the fluorescent bands in the
cortical bone allowed the bone formation rate to be determined. CT (computed tomography)
scans were taken while rats were still alive to give a visual representation of the bone. From
evaluating microCT scans, data was collected to prove the individual cortical bone
measurements in HIV-1 Tg rats are significantly less than the control WT rats.