inhibitors. The RT inhibitors, which are licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration, are AZT (zidovudine), ddi (didanosine), ddC (zalcitabine), d4T (stavudine), and 3TC (lamivudine). The drugs work as DNA-chain terminators. The most effective time to take these drugs is when first infected. Because the virus mutates rapidly and there are many different strains of HIV, some people may become drug-resistant to RT inhibitors. The combination of AZT and 3TC have been shown effective in preventing the AIDS virus from developing resistance to AZT. The combination has also shown a boost in CD4 T-cell counts and lower levels of HIV in the blood. Protease inhibitors were approved by the FDA in 1995 and have shown to cripple a key enzyme called protease, which is vital to reproduction of HIV. When protease is blocked, HIV makes copies of itself that cannot infect new cells. HIV infection does not spread inside the body as quickly as it does without protease inhibitors. These drugs can reduce up to 99% of the virus in the blood, but more viruses can remain elsewhere in the body. The virus will become dormant or latently infected meaning they are infected but still waiting to make new virus. One drug will not win the battle alone, therefore, researchers believe other anti-HIV need to be administered. Bone marrow xenotransplantation has also been performed. A man with AIDS received a bone marrow transplant from a baboon (baboons are resistant to HIV) in hopes to restore the patients immune system. Not enough time has elapsed to support or dismiss the possible hope of a new, improved life for the man. Gene therapy and immunization are other possible alternatives in helping to prevent the virus from spreading. Also, the HIV Notification Law, which congress and some physicians are trying to pass. They feel that to prevent the spread of HIV, sex partners should be notified for testing. They believe that by doing so,...
