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Watercolour and ink on paper illustration of HIV assembly and budding. Once additional viral RNA and proteins have been made inside an infected target cell (usually CD4 T cells, a type of white blood cell found in the immune system), they are assembled and packaged together into new virus particles (virions) ready for release. HIV Gag protein and gag-pol (red) form an ordered arrangement below the cell membrane (white/grey) capturing the HIV genome (yellow). Viral proteins Vpr and Vif (purple; lower middle) are also incorporated. The assembled virus then pinches off from the cell picking up cell membrane on the way to create the viral envelope. Width of image is approximately 100 nm.



This image forms part of a series of illustrations which capture HIV at eight different points in the viral life cycle as it infects a cell and replicates.

HIV assembly and budding, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

This illustreation shows an artists impression of Chancroid, taken from an electron micrograph image. Chrancoid is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacteria Haemophilus ducreyi. Women often remain asymtomatic, however, Chancroid does cause genital ulcers reported mostly by men and can often result in painful, swollen lymph glands in the groin. It is a curable disease and is treated with antibiotics

Chancroid

This mercury douche was used to treat venereal disease (VD) during the 1800s. VD is now known as STIs (sexually transmitted infections). The douche was made by French instrument maker A. Aubrey. It comes with different-sized attachments used to inject mercury into the penis or vagina. This was called urethral therapy because the medication was inserted through the urethra, the small tube carrying urine from the bladder to the reproductive organs. Mercury was often used to treat syphilis and other venereal diseases. Prolonged exposure to mercury can cause severe damage to the brain and other major organs.

maker: Aubry, A.

Place made: Paris, Ville de Paris, Île-de-France, France

Mercury douche for urethral therapy, Paris, France, 1840-189

Venereal diseases (VD) – or sexually transmitted infections as they are known today – were a big problem during the Second World War, posing a constant threat to the fighting strength of troops. The main venereal diseases, syphilis and gonorrhoea, were potentially very serious. Left untreated syphilis could result in blindness, insanity, paralysis and death.

This striking poster was part of an anti-VD campaign in 1943-1944 and warns of the ‘easy’ girlfriend who can spread disease. It was designed by Reginald Mount (1906-79), anartist who produced a number of wartime posters for the British Ministry of Information.

designer: Mount, Reginald, maker: Her Majesty's Stationery Office

Place made: Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom

'The easy girlfriend', poster, England, 1943-1944

It is thought that this token is advertising an anti-syphilis treatment made by Maison Laffecteur in Paris, France. The treatments could also be used for other STIs, known then as venereal diseases. Unlike other treatments, this ointment was not mercury based – and therefore toxic – but made from vegetables! The treatment is very unlikely to have worked.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: France

Token advertising anti-syphilis treatment, France, 1830-1900

Watercolour and ink on paper illustration of a cross section through the capsid (red; conical shape) from an HIV virus after it has entered a target cell (blue; usually a CD4 T cell, a type of white blood cell found in the immune system). Once inside the infected target cell the capsid protein uncoats, releasing viral RNA (yellow) and viral proteins (red and purple) into the cytoplasm of the target cell. Reverse transcriptase (purple; three of these are seen here at the centre of the image attached to viral RNA and DNA) then creates a DNA copy (green) of the HIV RNA genome (yellow), using transfer RNA (blue; two of these are seen here at the centre of the image attached to viral RNA and DNA) from the host target cell as primer. HIV nucleocapsid protein (lots of small red molecules seen here attached to viral RNA) acts as a chaperone to unfold the RNA so that it can be copied in this way. This process of making DNA from an RNA template is called reverse transcription. Width of image is approximately 100 nm.



This image forms part of a series of illustrations which capture HIV at eight different points in the viral life cycle as it infects a cell and replicates.

Reverse transcription, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Salvarsan was a synthetic drug produced to treat the STI syphilis. The drug was developed by Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915), a German medical scientist, and his team in 1909 after three years of research. Ehrlich coined the phrase ‘magic bullet’ to describe this new wonder drug.

The diluted yellow Salvarsan treatment was difficult and painful to inject and it did not cure syphilis overnight. As it was an arsenic based compound, it was also toxic. Salvarsan would later be replaced by antibiotics such as penicillin.

The drug in the kit was made by a German manufacturer Farbwerke vorm Meister Lucius & Bruning AG and is stamped with the date “3 February 1912”. It was sold by a British chemist, W Martindale, who added all the equipment to prepare injections.

maker (Salvarsan): Farbwerke vorm Meister Lucius und Brüning, supplier: W Martindale

Place made: Höchst, Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany

Salvarsan treatment kit for syphilis, Germany, 1909-1912

This felt badge resembles a school badge and has the logo ‘Chlamydia’ embroidered on the front. It was used within the Department of Health’s 2007 ‘Essential Wear’ condom campaign which intended to increase condom use among young people aged 18-24. It was hoped this would reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). TV adverts showed couples in amorous situations and featured close-ups of their clothing labels which displayed the names of STIs, including chlamydia. 

Chlamydia is caused by a bacterium called chlamydia trachomatis and is the most commonly diagnosed STI in the UK. It is often referred to as the ‘silent’ disease because it displays no obvious symptoms. Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics. However, it can lead to the more serious pelvic inflammatory disease in women if left undiagnosed. This disease carries a risk of infertility and the increased chance of an ectopic pregnancy (where the foetus develops outside the womb). A simple swab test or urine sample detects chlamydia. This is normally done through the local GP or a local GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: United Kingdom

Felt badge used in TV ad campaign, United Kingdom, 2007

Watercolour and ink on paper illustration of a cross section through an HIV virus particle (upper; red and purple) attaching to a host target cell (lower; blue and green) e.g. a CD4 T cell, a type of white blood cell found in the immune system. Both the virus and the target cell are surrounded by separate membranes (white/grey; circular shape) and blood plasma is visible between the two (yellow and brown). Three HIV envelope glycoproteins (purple; extend out from the virus and look like trees rooted in the membrane) bind to proteins (receptor CD4 and co-receptor CCR5) on the surface of the target cell. This causes a change in conformation that inserts fusion peptides into the cellular membrane. Width of image is approximately 100 nm.



This image forms part of a series of illustrations which capture HIV at eight different points in the viral life cycle as it infects a cell and replicates.

HIV attachment, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

This illustration drawn from an electron micrograph shows Herpes; an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two types of herpes; oral and genital. Oral Herpes causes cold sores and affects the face and mouth. Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease and causes genital warts, there is currently no known cure and the virus can lay dormant in the body for life, causing repeat outbreaks.

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HIV assembly and budding, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Chancroid

Mercury douche for urethral therapy, Paris, France, 1840-189

'The easy girlfriend', poster, England, 1943-1944

Token advertising anti-syphilis treatment, France, 1830-1900

Reverse transcription, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Salvarsan treatment kit for syphilis, Germany, 1909-1912

Felt badge used in TV ad campaign, United Kingdom, 2007

HIV attachment, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Herpes

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HIV assembly and budding, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Chancroid

Mercury douche for urethral therapy, Paris, France, 1840-189

'The easy girlfriend', poster, England, 1943-1944

Token advertising anti-syphilis treatment, France, 1830-1900

Reverse transcription, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Salvarsan treatment kit for syphilis, Germany, 1909-1912

Felt badge used in TV ad campaign, United Kingdom, 2007

HIV attachment, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Herpes

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