Replication of HIV

• Where does HIV replicate?

  inside it's host's helper T-cells
• Where can HIV and all other viruses only reproduce insdie?

  the cells of the organism it has infected
• HIV doesnt have the equipment such as enzymes and ribosomes to replicate on its own, so it uses those of the host cell.
• How does HIV replicate?


  1. the attachment protein attaches to a receptor molecule on the cell membrane of the host helper T-cell
  2. The capsid is released into the cell, where it uncoats and releases the genetic material (RNA ) into the cells cytoplasm
• How does HIV replicate?


  3. inside the cell, reverse transcriptase is used to make a complementary strand of DNA from the viral RNA template

  4. From this , double - stranded DNA is made and inserted into the human DNA
• How does HIV replicate?


  5. Host cell enzymes are used to make viral proteins from the viral DNA found within the human DNA

  6. The viral proteins are assembled into new viruses, which bud from the cell and go on to infect other cells