An extremely informative video on the science of HIV and AIDS made by AsapScience on Youtube
Continue readingVIDEO: The Science of HIV & AIDS
Post Category → #ThingsYouShouldKnow
The ABCs of Hepatitis
A short guide to the viruses from the Hepatitis Family: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D & Hepatitis E.
Continue readingHIV PEP drugs: Truvada® combination therapy
Truvada® is commonly used in combination with Isentress® for PEP due to the effectiveness and lack of negative interaction between the two drugs. Learn more in this detailed guide.
Continue readingHIV PEP drugs: Isentress® (Raltegravir) intergrase inhibitor
Isentress® is one of the newest classes of antiretrovirals, the intergrase inhibitors. This drug disables the HIV intergrase protein which is responsible for integrating the viral genome into the human chromosome and causing the chronic incurable infection. Developed by Merck and Co, it was approved for adult use in 2007 by the FDA and use… Continue reading
HIV PEP Drugs: Viread® (tenofovir) nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)
Tenofovir (Viread®) was invented by Antonín Holý from at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and patented in 1984, making this one of the earliest antiviral drugs. In collaboration with Gilead Sciences and the University of California, it was developed into its current form and was approved for… Continue reading
HIV PEP drugs: Emtriva® (emtricitabine) reverse transcriptase inhibitor
Emtricitabine was developed as a combined effort between Dr. Dennis C. Liotta, Dr. Raymond F. Schinazi, and Dr. Woo-Baeg Choi at Emory university and was patented by Emory through Triangle Pharmaceuticals under the trade name of Emtriva® in 1996. Triangle Pharmaceuticals has been owned by Gilead Sciences since 2003. Emtriva®™ targets the HIV protein reverse transcriptase. By inhibiting… Continue reading
HIV PEP drugs: Kaletra® (lopinavir/ritonavir) viral protease inhibitors
The HIV PEP designer drug Kaletra® (LPV/r) contains the two HIV viral protease inhibitors lopinavir (LPV) and ritonavir (RTV) [Norvir®]. Developed by Abbott laboratories in 2000, it is referred to as a designer drug as it was specifically formulated based on X-ray crystallography structures to specifically target the HIV protease. Both lopinavir and ritonavir inhibit the… Continue reading
HIV PEP: Frequently asked questions
What is PEP? PEP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis and is a combination of drugs (usually lopinavir/ritonavir, emtricitabine and tenofovir) that will prevent replication of the HIV virus long enough for your body to clear it. How does PEP work? HIV PEP uses a three-pronged attack, aiming at elements of the virus essential for replication and… Continue reading
Female condoms; women in control.
Most people are familiar with the male condom. Its use is outlined in sex education classes and mentioned extensively in movies, TV, and other popular media. Less well known is the female condom, a barrier method of contraception and STD protection. What is it? The female condom is a pre-lubricated polyethylene sheath that is inserted… Continue reading
The virus that creeps: Herpes simplex
The herpes simplex virus comes in two strains, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1. This STD most commonly causes oral herpes (cold sores) and HSV-2 genital herpes though both can cause infection of the mouth or genitals. The HSV viruses are large double-stranded DNA viruses and members of the Herpesviridae family which also includes Epstein-Barr Virus, the Chickenpox… Continue reading