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Article: How HIV-1 kills: Implications for the Treatment and Prevention of AIDS.
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
- Article date:
- April 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Abstract:
HIV-1 is parasitic. Since it encodes for glutathione peroxidase, as it replicates, its genetic needs cause it to deprive HIV-1 seropositive individuals of selenium, cysteine, glutamine and tryptophan, the four basic components of this selenoenzyme. Eventually this process causes severe deficiencies of each of these four nutrients. These deficiencies are responsible for the major symptoms of AIDS which include immune system collapse, muscle wasting, dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia. Associated pathogenic cofactors also are responsible for a variety of unique symptoms. Any treatment for HIV/AIDS must, therefore, include normalization of body levels of ...