The Game of T-Cells
“Chronicling the Epic Battles Between the Immune System with HIV, Other Threats, and Sometimes Itself"

For M’Lord or M’Lady – No Medical Background Necessary

WHICH HOUSE WILL YOU PLEDGE YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO?

Blue Wolf with a 4 by the headOrange octopus with a sword in one hand and an 8 embedded within

Blue 4 Overlayed on a Red X4 fists with red virus inlayed

A video by AsapSCIENCE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Why was this website made?
    • Here at the Striker lab we are hoping to reach and educate people interested in learning more about HIV and the research that is being done across the world to combat it! By sharing cutting edge ideas and current HIV topics all in one place, we hope to sway the odds in the fight against HIV and give the tools of information and knowledge to people living with the disease.
  • What’s with the Game of Thrones theme?
    • The fight against HIV shares a likeness for the popular HBO show and the battle for the main continent of the Game of Thrones universe, Westeros. We like to have a little fun here at the Striker lab and being able to relate our research to something in pop culture gives us a chance to reach many more people!
  • How do we provide feedback for the site?
    • We at the Game of T-Cells blog want to have a community of people who are comfortable exchanging ideas and information. If you click here you’ll find our contact information! Feel free to send us your awesome contributions, new ideas, or to simply point out some mistakes on the website. We welcome nerds, scientists, patients, and people of all types dedicated to helping us in our campaign against HIV!
  • Are you sure you guys know anything about Game of Thrones? Aren’t there suppose to be, you know some dragons?
    • Don’t worry, we will be adding content every month and you will find out who the dragons are. If you have suggestions for houses that should be added or want to help add analogies or artwork or whatever, please contact us with your ideas. That said, things are different between the show and the books and the point of this website is to educate and encourage people to get their immune system “in balance” and healthy. When you play the Game of T cells, you win or you die!
  • Do I need to know anything about Game of Thrones to join this website?
    • Not at all! Although the theme of this website relies heavily on the popular TV show, we have attempted to make it as user-friendly as possible and explain the main points from the show that non-Game of Thrones watchers may not know. We also welcome nerds from any area of fantasy/ pop culture especially if they have a “Ring of Power”. We hope to include everyone interested in the work we are doing.
  • What are “White Walkers?”
    • In the Game of Thrones universe, there are many “bad guys,” but none as dangerous or more mysterious as the White Walkers. In Game of Thrones, the White Walkers are a group of snow monsters that possess a human being to do their bidding and join their army. Once a character in the show is infected by the White Walkers, they can then continue to infect other characters and make more servants for the White Walkers. In many ways, this mirrors the HIV virus, which infects CD4 cells and recruits them to build more of the virus. Once this new virus is created and released from the CD4 cell, it can infect other CD4 cells and turn them into HIV factories.
  • What is the CD4/CD8 Ratio?
    • The main area of our research! It is also a number that shows the relationship between CD4 and CD8 cells in a person’s immune system. A high CD4/CD8 ratio (more than 1 CD4 cell for every CD8 cells) is a very good indication of a healthy immune system. A lower ratio puts someone at risk for certain diseases like heart disease and stroke. It is currently unknown if a ratio can be “too high” or not but some people naturally have higher ratios than others.
  • How does the ratio relate to HIV?
    • As HIV disease advances, it begins to eliminate CD4 cells, which are important to immunity. Even before the CD4 cell count starts to drop, the, CD8 cells begin to increase. Both the CD4 drop and the CD8 increase makes the CD4/CD8 ratio go down. When CD8 cells are too high for too long they cause widespread, chronic inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation can cause serious disease, such as heart disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), stroke, and liver disease.
  • What if I’m offended by the content of this site?
    • PLEASE let us know if you find any of the content on this website offensive. Our goal is NOT to make light of the situation people living with HIV face. Although we like to have fun here at the Striker lab, we take our research and the health of our patients very seriously, which is why we have created this website. Our intention is to educate and build a community that can help other individuals living with HIV. Contact us immediately if you do not feel we are keeping in line with this goal.