Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 19

Essay ExampleThough HIV proved vulnerable to a variety of medicinal treatments in its initial stages, its strength to mutate at a phenomenal rate has allowed it to evade all of the drugs that have been created to combat it. HIVs propensity to rapidly evolve has therefrom far prevented scientists from discovering an effectual vaccine.HIV evolves (mutates) into m either various types of strains in the afflicted system, therefore, the bodys immune system is not able to locate or eradicate the entirety of the virus. This is the problem for the researchers, doctors and the patients. They are attempting to fight a microbial enemy that is constantly changing and adapting so as to remain resistant to any and all anti-viral medications. The HIV virus, replicating billions of times a day, can acquire new mutations at lightning speed. Eventually, some of the genetic changes enable the virus to resist even the most mesomorphic drugs. These drug-resistant viruses come to dominate the cellular population and threaten the patients life (Structured Treatment, 2001). HIV has been estimated to have the ability to mutate more than hundred times per day in untreated individuals. As a result drug resistant virus cell mutations are well ahead of the concomitant drug therapy being offered (Shafer, 2004). HIV is difficult to treat because it evolves so rapidly, it outpaces the treatments. When a patient begins taking an HIV drug, the drug keeps many of the viruses from reproducing, but some come through because they happen to have a certain level of resistance (Zimmer, 2001). Because of HIVs ability to evolve at such a massive pace, it rapidly counters selective treatments. The HIV cells that survive the initial drug infusion multiply and their decedents carry the drug resistant strain. This is the reason that patient drug therapy includes what is commonly