5.7 the human immunodeficiency virus

• HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus
• AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• features of HIV:

  1. lipid envelope
  2. attachment protein
  3. RNA
  4. matrix
  5. capsid
  6. reverse transcriptase
• replication of HIV:

  1. a protein on HIV binds to a protein on the helper T cell
  2. the protein capsid fuses with the cell-surface membrane and the RNA and enzymes of the HIV enter the helper T cell
  3. the HIV reverse transcriptase converts the virus's RNA to DNA
  4. the new DNA is inserted into the cell's DNA
  5. the HIV DNA in the nucleus creates mRNA and contains instructions for making new HIV
• HIV contains the enzyme reverse transcriptase
• HIV mostly frequently attaches to helper T cells
• the ELIZA test stands for enzyme linked immunosorbant assay
• the ELIZA test:

  1. apply the sample to a surface
  2. wash the surface several times to remove any unattached antigens
  3. add the antibody that is complementary to the antigen
  4. wash the surface to remove excess antibodies
  5. add a second antibody that binds to the first antibody. The second antibody has an enzyme attached to it
  6. add the coloured substrate of the enzyme
  7. the amount of antigen present will be relative to the intensity of the colour that develops