HIV

• Structure of HIV

  A) Attachment proteins

  B) Capsid

  C) Lipid envelope

  D) Matrix

  E) Reverse transcriptase

  F) Genetic material

  
• HIV cannot replicate itself, instead it uses a host cell's genetic material to instruct the host cell's biochemical mechanisms to produce new HIV
• HIV replication, step 1: a protein on HIV binds to a protein called CD4 (mostly on helper T cells)
• HIV replication, step 2: the protein capsid fuses with the cell-surface membrane. The RNA and enzymes enter the helper T cell
• HIV replication, step 3: reverse transcriptase converts the virus's RNA into DNA
• HIV replication, step 4: the newly made DNA is moved to the helper T cell's nucleus and is inserted into the cell's DNA
• HIV replication, step 5: the HIV DNA creates mRNA, then the mRNA leaves the host nucleus and creates new HIV particles using the cell's protein synthesis mechanisms
• HIV replication, step 6: the HIV particles break away from the helper T cell with a piece of its cell-surface membrane which acts as its lipid envelope
• HIV causes the symptoms of AIDS as it attacks helper T cell. This means that there are less of them and the body cannot fight pathogens effectively