Page 141 - 78 glossary of hivaids-related terms_opt

Vector
A harmless virus or bacteria used as a vaccine carrier to deliver
pieces of a disease-causing organism (such as HIV) into the body’s
cells to stimulate a protective immune response.
See Also: Vaccine

Vertical Transmission
A term used to describe the transmission of a disease from parent
to offspring. For example, HIV can be spread vertically from mother
to child during pregnancy, at birth, or through breastfeeding.
See Also: Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT)
Horizontal Transmission

Viral Decay
The reduction of viral reservoirs in the body. Decay of a virus may be
measured by pharmacokinetic studies.

Viral Evolution
The changes that occur in a population of viruses as they adapt to
specific conditions and changes in the host environment.

Viral Load (VL)
The amount of HIV RNA in a blood sample, reported as number
of HIV RNA copies per milliliter of blood plasma. The VL provides
information about the number of cells infected with HIV and is an
important indicator of HIV progression and of how well treatment is
working. The VL can be measured by different techniques, including
branched-chain DNA (bDNA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase
chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. VL tests are usually done when
an individual is diagnosed with HIV infection and at regular intervals
after diagnosis.
See Also: Branched-Chain DNA (bDNA) Assay V
Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

HIV/AIDS Glossary 139