Glossary

  • AIDS - Acquired immune deficiency syndromeor acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
     
  • ARV -  Antiretroviral drugs are used for the treatment of infections caused by retroviruses, such as HIV.
     
  • CD4+ T cells- are cells which are essential in mounting immune responses and can be infected by HIV.
     
  • DC- Dendritic cells are immune cells which can capture proteins from other cells and present them to T cells.
     
  • EMPRO - The European Microbocides Project, funded by the European Commission as part of the Sixth Framework Programme and ended in 2009.
     
  • HAART - Highly active antiretroviral therapy is an approach whereby 3 or 4 ARV drugs are taken in combination.
     
  • HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lentivirus (a member of the retrovirus family) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
     
  • Macrophages- White blood cells that can remove harmful pathogens from the body by ingesting and destroying them, and can be infected by HIV.
     
  • Microbicide- Anti-infective medication formulated for topical administration before intercourse to protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI's).