CASE HISTORY
At 24 years of age,Ralph had just been promoted at the car dealership where he worked in sales.He was ready to propose to his girlfriend,a bank clerk.It was several years since Ralph had engaged in risky behaviors,but he and his girlfriend both decided to get tested for STDs.That is how Ralph learned that he was HIV positive.The diagnosis came as a surprise,since Ralph had no symptoms of disease.His T-cell count,however,had dipped to 500 cells/mm3 (normal level is about 1,200 cells/mm3).Now he faced the dilemma of how to avoid infecting his future wife and how to conceive healthy children.
The doctor informed Ralph of his treatment options.The current recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)is to commence antiretroviral therapy as soon as an individual tests positive for the virus.A single daily pill was prescribed,containing tenofovir and emtricitabine (reverse transcriptase inhibitors,together marketed as Truvada).The advantage of early treatment with Truvada is the early halt in decline of T cells and the decrease in transmission risk.Some physicians,however,recommend starting antivirals only when T-cell counts fall below 500 cells/mm3,to delay the deleterious side effects of the drugs and to postpone selection for drug-resistant strains.Ralph was also told of options for conceiving children without infection,such as the "sperm washing" procedure that eliminates HIV from sperm for artificial insemination.He had a lot to discuss with his girlfriend.
Infection with lentiviruses such as HIV can be lethal;however,lentiviruses may potentially be used to save lives.What features of these viruses allow them to be used for gene therapy,and can they be used to fight disease? Be specific and include an example of a disease in which this approach could be employed.

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The Answer of CASE HISTORY
At 24 years of age,Ralph had just been promoted at the car dealership where he worked in sales.He was ready to propose to his girlfriend,a bank clerk.It was several years since Ralph had engaged in risky behaviors,but he and his girlfriend both decided to get tested for STDs.That is how Ralph learned that he was HIV positive.The diagnosis came as a surprise,since Ralph had no symptoms of disease.His T-cell count,however,had dipped to 500 cells/mm3 (normal level is about 1,200 cells/mm3).Now he faced the dilemma of how to avoid infecting his future wife and how to conceive healthy children.
The doctor informed Ralph of his treatment options.The current recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)is to commence antiretroviral therapy as soon as an individual tests positive for the virus.A single daily pill was prescribed,containing tenofovir and emtricitabine (reverse transcriptase inhibitors,together marketed as Truvada).The advantage of early treatment with Truvada is the early halt in decline of T cells and the decrease in transmission risk.Some physicians,however,recommend starting antivirals only when T-cell counts fall below 500 cells/mm3,to delay the deleterious side effects of the drugs and to postpone selection for drug-resistant strains.Ralph was also told of options for conceiving children without infection,such as the "sperm washing" procedure that eliminates HIV from sperm for artificial insemination.He had a lot to discuss with his girlfriend.
Infection with lentiviruses such as HIV can be lethal;however,lentiviruses may potentially be used to save lives.What features of these viruses allow them to be used for gene therapy,and can they be used to fight disease? Be specific and include an example of a disease in which this approach could be employed.

CASE HISTORY at 24 Years of Age,Ralph Had Just Been Promoted at Promoted