HIV/AIDS was discovered in the 1980s by researchers including Dr. Robert Gallo and Dr. Luc Montagnier, though Gallo did not properly credit Montagnier. HIV slowly damages immune cells, leading to AIDS. It mutates easily, making a vaccine difficult to develop. There are two main types, HIV-1 and HIV-2. Africa has been severely impacted, with over 30 million deaths worldwide. Those most at risk are women, drug users, and those who do not use protection. It has significantly impacted societies and economies by killing many people and requiring substantial funding for treatment research.

1. HIV/AIDS
1. Identification
(A) what does the name mean? Who named/discovered it?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.
AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
aids was discovered by two separate institutes who decided to work together to
find out about aids. Dr. Robert Gallo announced to the public that he had
discovered aids, but Dr. Luc Montagnier had also helped him discover it but Gallo
did not give him credit.
Source 1 and 2
(B) what causes the disease?
The Aids virus is caused by HIV, HIV will slowly damage cells so they can
become infected easier and making it more difficult to fight it off. When HIV
infects you enough they say you have aids. It can take to around ten years for
HIV to turn into aids
Source 3
(C) Has the disease changed over time? Mutations?
When Aids multiplies within a person, each time it multiplies it mutates differently
and that is why they cannot create a vaccine for it. HIV came from a disease
found in monkeys called SIV.
source 4
(D) can you identify any phylogenies?
There are two main types of HIV, HIV-1 HIV-2. HIV-1 is spread more and
is very common with a disease found in monkeys
SIV simian immunodeficiency virus
source 5
(E) can another species get it?
Mice (SCIDtm), cats (FIV), and monkeys (SIV) can all get similar diseases to
aids chimpanzees can get HIV-1.
Source 6
2. Demographics
(A) Is it associated with any particular region of the world? Why?
When I think of aids I think of Africa, because that’s were they think it started. A
lot of people have aids in Africa, in 9 countries in Africa on tenth of adults had
aids. In sub-Saharan Africa 1.9 million people were infected with HIV in 2010,
and world wide 2.7 million people were infected in 2010.
Source 7
(B) How many people has HIV/aids affected?

2. Around 34 million people have HIV/aids around the world, and more than 30
million people have died from aids. In 2010 2.7 million people were newly
infected with aids.
Source 8 and source 9
(C.) Is everyone equally vulnerable, or does it target particular categories
of people? Why?
Some people have a natural immunity to HIV were they can have HIV and still be
healthy and not have it become aids. Scientist’s call these people “HIV
controllers” because their body can keep the HIV virus suppressed so that it
doesn’t progress to aids.
Women are twice as likely to get HIV thought vaginal sex then men also, Drug
users and people who don’t use condoms are more likely to get HIV because it is
transmitted through exchange of bodily fluids.
Source 10 and 11
3. Impact
(A) how has the disease impacted the course of history? Give an
example.
The HIV/aids epidemic has changed the course of history because it has killed so
many people, its costing a lot of money to try to find cure’s to it.
(B) how is the disease currently affecting society?
HIV/aids is affecting society in a negative way, it is killing a lot of people and it
scares a lot of people. It has had bad rumors about it and people that have it.