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Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The HIV virus, has its genetic material made from RNA. It has to insert its genetic code into that of the host cell in order to replicate. In order to achieve this it must first make a DNA copy so that it is compatible with the DNA of the host cell. DNA is then made using the code of the RNA. Since this is the opposite of the usual case the viruses that do this are called retroviruses.
The HIV replication process.
1 - Virus attaches: Proteins on the HIV virus “dock” with CD4 receptors on the target cell.
2 - Genes copied: The HIV virus makes a copy of its own genetic material.
3 - Replication: The virus inserts this copy into the host cell’s DNA. When the cell reproduces, it manufactures the parts of the HIV virus.
4 - Release: The parts are assembled and form a “bud”, which breaks off to become a new HIV virus.
Credit: Blog-It’s all about people
1 - Virus attaches: Proteins on the HIV virus “dock” with CD4 receptors on the target cell.
2 - Genes copied: The HIV virus makes a copy of its own genetic material.
3 - Replication: The virus inserts this copy into the host cell’s DNA. When the cell reproduces, it manufactures the parts of the HIV virus.
4 - Release: The parts are assembled and form a “bud”, which breaks off to become a new HIV virus.
Credit: Blog-It’s all about people
The HIV virus has several layers, including an outer layer, an inner layer and a core shell.
The outer layer is interrupted by glycoproteins (gp) which play an important role in the lifecycle of the virus, and are targeted by a new type of drugs called "entry inhibitors". Within the core shell lies the genetic material of the virus (RNA), as well as some of the enzymes the virus needs to replicate. This includes Reverse Transcriptase, an enzyme that catalyzes the production of DNA based on the RNA genetic code. NRTI and NNRTI drugs inhibit the Reverse Transcriptase enzyme and thus prevent the virus from replicating.
The HIV virus. Credit: Topnews
The outer layer is interrupted by glycoproteins (gp) which play an important role in the lifecycle of the virus, and are targeted by a new type of drugs called "entry inhibitors". Within the core shell lies the genetic material of the virus (RNA), as well as some of the enzymes the virus needs to replicate. This includes Reverse Transcriptase, an enzyme that catalyzes the production of DNA based on the RNA genetic code. NRTI and NNRTI drugs inhibit the Reverse Transcriptase enzyme and thus prevent the virus from replicating.
The HIV virus. Credit: Topnews
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