title: [Infections with human immunodeficiency viruses. Part I: pathogens, epidemiology, and clinical presentation].
abstract: Human immunodeficiency viruses 1 (HIV-1) and 2 (HIV-2) are single-stranded, enveloped ribonucleic acid viruses of the retrovirus family (retroviridae). They are transmitted by unprotected sexual intercourse, the inoculation of HIV-contaminated blood into the bloodstream and from mother to child via the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal route (in breast-feeding women). In contrast to infections with HIV-2, HIV-1 infections are frequently distributed worldwide and belong to the most common severe infections in humans. 90% of all HIV-1 infected people, however, live in less developed countries, e.g., numerous areas in South and Eastern Africa. Without an appropriate antiretroviral treatment, HIV-1 infections lead after a perennial, individual-dependent period to a state of generalized low immunity (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS), resulting in the establishment of several illnesses due to a wide range of opportunistic pathogens. In several less developed regions, these so-called AIDS-defining diseases still represent one of the most frequent causes of death.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Parasitologie, Abteilung Pharmazeutische Mikrobiologie, Universität Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, 53115 Bonn. Ingo_Stock@web.de
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stock
mesh_terms: D000351:Africa, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents