WELCOME ONBOARD!

The 1st established LGBT Center in Taiwan, Sunshine Queer Center aims to decrease the infection rate of HIV between MSM (Men who have sex with Men) and to provide relevant health guidance in south Taiwan.

For more information on what SQC is and what they do, visit their website.

Get Spotted!

Presenting the brand new campaign for 2012!  Join us for 4 sessions of fun filled programme with Gia and her entourage.

For more information on the various venues, click on the logo

Take Action! Is an all-new competition organised by Oogachaga to provide individuals or groups with the passion and drive for community involvement an opportunity to plan and execute their own programs for the Singapore lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community. The online competition will commence in February 2012 and end in March 2012 while the subsequent execution of the winning programs will span from April to June 2012.

From this initiative, individuals can get to experience the rush of creating, planning and executing their own programs from start to finish. They will be given the chance to think out of the box to generate fresh ideas for the LGBTQ community to work towards progress in the areas of
(i) fostering community bonding and cohesiveness,
(ii) raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and sexual health,
(iii) promoting better understanding of mental wellness and
(iv) educating communities about sexual orientations or gender identities.

In the process, all participants will learn to craft a good proposal for their own programs while winners will receive SGD$500 cash and up to SGD$1000 in seed funding to implement and execute the program of their choice.

Indeed, this would provide participants a chance to be exposed to the goings-on in the LGBTQ community and be at the forefront of progress as they will be able to tackle the issues that concern and affect them. On top of the aforementioned prizes, Oogachaga will also be offering technical and logistic support to the participants should they require any.

The competition is open to all individuals and formal/informal community groups residing in Singapore for the duration of the competition. Individuals and group members have to be at least 18 years old to enter.

For more information, please visit the Oogachaga website: http://www.oogachaga.com/takeaction or facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/351414504878891/

Please help us to spread the words about Take Action!

Step 6: Viral Assembly and Maturation

The final step begins with the assembly of new virus. Long strings of proteins are cut up by a viral enzyme called protease into smaller proteins. These proteins serve a variety of functions; some become structural elements of new HIV, while others become enzymes, such as reverse transcriptase.

Once the new viral particles are assembled, they bud off the host cell, and create a new virus. The virus then enters the maturation stage, which involves the processing of viral proteins. Maturation is the final step in the process and is required for the virus to become infectious.

With viral assembly and maturation completed, the virus is able to infect new cells. Each infected cell can produce a lot of new viruses.

Viral assembly can be blocked by Protease Inhibitors (PIs). Maturation, a new target of companies developing anti-HIV drugs, may be blocked using Maturation Inhibitors.

Source | Article was last revised on aidsmeds.com

Step 4: Transcription

Once HIV’s genetic material is inside the cell’s nucleus, it directs the cell to produce new HIV.

The strands of viral DNA in the nucleus separate, and special enzymes create a complementary strand of genetic material called messenger RNA or mRNA (instructions for making new HIV).

Transcription can be blocked by antisense antivirals or transcription inhibitors (TIs), new classes of drugs that are in the earliest stage of research.

Step 5: Translation

The mRNA carries instructions for making new viral proteins from the nucleus to a kind of workshop in the cell. Each section of the mRNA corresponds to a protein building block for making a part of HIV.

As each mRNA strand is processed, a corresponding string of proteins is made. This process continues until the mRNA strand has been transformed or “translated” into new viral proteins needed to make a new virus.

Source | Article was last revised on aidsmeds.com

Step 3: Integration

The HIV DNA is then carried to the cell’s nucleus (center), where the cell’s DNA is kept. Then, another viral enzyme called integrase hides the proviral DNA into the cell’s DNA. Then, when the cell tries to make new proteins, it can accidentally make new HIVs.

Integration can be blocked by integrase inhibitors.

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Integrase_1687.shtml

Source | Article was last revised on aidsmeds.com

Step 2: Reverse Transcription

HIV’s genes are carried in two strands of RNA, while the genetic material of human cells is found in DNA. In order for the virus to infect the cell, a process called “reverse transcription” makes a DNA copy of the virus’s RNA.

After the binding process, the viral capsid (the inside of the virus which contains the RNA and important enzymes) is released into the host cell. A viral enzyme called reverse transcriptase makes a DNA copy of the RNA. This new DNA is called “proviral DNA.”

Reverse transcription can be blocked by: Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs),

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/NRTIs_1082.shtml

and Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs).

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/NNRTIs_1612.shtml

Source | Article was last revised on aidsmeds.com

Step 1: Binding

A virus consists of an outer envelope of protein, fat and sugar wrapped around a set of genes (in the case of HIV, genetic information is carried as RNA instead of DNA) and special enzymes.

HIV has proteins on its envelope that are strongly attracted to the CD4+ surface receptor on the outside of the T4-cell. When HIV binds to a CD4+ surface receptor, it activates other proteins on the cell’s surface, allowing the HIV envelope to fuse to the outside of the cell.

Entry can be blocked by entry inhibitors.

http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/EIs_1627.shtml

Source | Article was last revised on aidsmeds.com

By editorial team at AIDSmeds.com
Popular Lessons, HIV Life Cycle
Published November 14, 2008

Introduction

In order for viruses to reproduce, they must infect a cell. Viruses are not technically alive: they are sort of like a brain with no body. In order to make new viruses, they must hi-jack a cell, and use it to make new viruses. Just as your body is constantly making new skin cells, or new blood cells, each cell often makes new proteins in order to stay alive and to reproduce itself. Viruses hide their own DNA in the DNA of the cell, and then, when the cell tries to make new proteins, it accidentally makes new viruses as well. HIV mostly infects cells in the immune system.

Infection: Several different kinds of cells have proteins on their surface that are called CD4 receptors. HIV searches for cells that have CD4 surface receptors, because this particular protein enables the virus to bind to the cell. Although HIV infects a variety of cells, its main target is the T4-lymphocyte (also called the “T-helper cell”), a kind of white blood cell that has lots of CD4 receptors. The T4-cell is responsible for warning your immune system that there are invaders in the system.

Replication: Once HIV binds to a cell, it hides HIV DNA inside the cell’s DNA: this turns the cell into a sort of HIV factory.

Definitions
There are a few things you need to know in order to understand HIV infection.DNA: DNA is like the “blueprint” for building living cells.

Enzymes: Enzymes are like the workers of a cell. They build new proteins, transport materials around the cell, and carry out other important cellular functions.

RNA: RNA is like the construction boss. Cells use RNA to tell enzymes how to build a specific part of a cell. To make a new protein, enzymes will copy a specific part of the DNA into a piece of RNA. This RNA is then used by other enzymes to build a new protein or enzyme.

Proteins: The building blocks that are used to make living things.

Nucleus: A small package inside the cell where the genetic material is kept.

Source | Article was last revised on aidsmeds.com

By Jeremy Kinser
Travel, advocate.com
Published October 2011

With markets, mosques, and palaces that represent three different historical empires, Istanbul is not only one of the world’s oldest cities, it’s a mystical place that beckons gay travelers.

NIKADA

The mere mention of the Turkish metropolis conjures up visions of a skyline punctuated by countless minarets, bazaars redolent with the pungent aroma of spices, and a history gilded with stories of harem intrigue and despotic sultans.

Istanbul’s crown architectural jewel is the Topkapi Palace, which for centuries provided the primary residence for the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. And a colorful slice of history comes to life in a tour of the great halls of the harem, where sultry concubines were once guarded by eunuchs.

The 400-year-old Blue Mosque (above) takes its name from the indigo Iznik tiles covering the walls. The edifice is a triumph of harmony, proportion, and elegance. The mosque was part of a complex that included tombs, fountains, kitchens, and a bath. The sun streams in through the nearly 300 multicolored windows, creating a dazzling light effect.

In a land filled with above-ground structural marvels, one of the most fascinating and certainly the eeriest lies beneath the city. Thousands of slaves built the hundreds of columns that support Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern, the water source for Topkapi, but locals tell conflicting stories about the origin of the two colossal pillar bases carved with the head of the Medusa turned on its side so visitors can avert her deadly gaze.

A visit to the city’s world-famous hamams (Turkish baths) offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in history, architecture, warm water, and soap suds — all at once. However, forget any fantasy you’re harboring, as these baths are therapeutic, not erotic, unless you have a yen to be washed and aggressively massaged by oversize, hairy Turks intent on ridding your body of lingering toxins.

The world-famous Grand Bazaar is a mecca for shoppers, containing over 4,000 shops, which offer designer leather jackets, real Rolex watches, and expensive textiles whose prices can be negotiated down to a fraction of retail.

Though homosexuality hasn’t been illegal in Turkey since 1923, it won’t hurt to be cautious when asking directions to a gay bar in a predominantly Muslim country. Nevertheless, most cab drivers are familiar with the area where many of Istanbul’s gay bars are located, the Taksim/Beyoglu enclave. There are several dance clubs located on the central bustling, heavily trafficked street, filled with kabob shops and pedestrians. More difficult is discerning which of the swarthily handsome local bar patrons are being genuinely friendly and which are predatory rent boys.

Source | Article first published on advocate.com