Glossary

thrombocytopenia – a low platelet count (platelets help stop bleeding by clotting blood).

fusion inhibitor – a type of HIV drug (an entry inhibitor). Fusion inhibitors stops HIV ‘fusing’ to a CD4 cell. T-20 (enfuvirtide, Fuzeon) is only currently licensed fusion inhibitor.

Drug targets in the virus life cycle.

primary HIV infection (PHI) – early infection (usually first six months with after HIV infection). Sometimes called acute infection.

protozoa – a single-celled animals that are larger and more complex than bacteria.

nanotechnology – science working with tiny particles at the level of manipulating individual molecules. This is an exciting field of medicine. Drugs developed with nanotechnology would need much lower drug doses (hopefully cheaper and having fewer side effects) and would be longer lasting (perhaps being taken every2–4 weeks).