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Originally Posted by Paula
i believe if it was an animal it was a monkey? what other animal could it be? the most closely related animal to humans is the MONKEY, right? if believe the virus is related  (similar) to E-COLI? it is tranmitted in that area? yes, it is! |
E-Coli is a bacterium, and not a virus. HIV is a retrovirus that is just an RNA code protected by a protein layer, it not related to E-Coli, it is not even in the same kingdom, viruses are just peices of DNA wrapped in a protein shell, they have on e basic function, and that is to enter a cell and order it to make copies of themselves. Most viruses can be identified and attacked by the immune system, however, as HIV is a retrovirus (that means that it writes part of our DNA into itself as a substitute for its own) our immune system cannot attack it.
E-Coli is a bacterium that ususally lives harmlessly in our alimentary cannal (intestines) and only certain forms cause illness, it is not a sexually transmitted disease, and is not blood-born. HIV crossed the species barrier through Bushmen in Sub-Saharan Africa eating infected meat. It was not, as far as scientists can determine, through 'perverse sexual behavior', there are worries that other retroviruses could do the same as HIV has.