Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) is the causative agent for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Different strains of HIV-1 have been linked to a long term non-progressor (LTNP) or rapid progressor (RP) form of disease depending on rate of AIDS progression. Viral protein R (Vpr) is a viral protein that has been linked to varying rates of AIDS progression depending on the sequence. In this work, the effects of two polymorphisms, a LTNP and a RP, on different cells are studied. The LTNP virus was linked to lower release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF and IL-6, and an increase in apoptotic cell death. Pro-inflammatory genes, such as ULBP2 and ICAM1, were seen to be downregulated in the LTNP virus when compared to the Wild Type virus. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a pandemic in 2020, resulting in a shortage of disinfectants. Neutralizers that can be used to more effectively test disinfectants were formulated and used to show effective disinfection of two disinfectants.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Life Sciences; Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2024-08-07

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd13397

Keywords

AIDS, HIV-1, Vpr, SARS-CoV-2, apoptosis, inflammation

Language

english

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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