1. HIV enters bloodstream and circulates around body
2. Protein on HIV binds to CD4 protein on helper T cells
3. Protein capsid fuses with cell-surface membrane
4. RNA and enzyme of HIV enter helper T cell
5. HIV reverse transcriptase converts RNA into DNA
6. DNA inserted into helper T cell's nucleus
7. HIV DNA creates mRNA using cell's enzymes
8. mRNA passes out of nucleus through nuclear pore
9. Cell's protein synthesis mechanisms make HIV particles
10. HIV particles break away from helper T cell with piece of cell-surface membrane forming lipid envelope