HIV

• HIV Structure:

  • Core - Genetic Material (RNA) and Reverse Transcriptase
  • Capsid - Outer protein coat
  • Envelope - Extra outer layer, made of taken membrane
  • Protein Attachments - Exterior receptors
• HIV is transported in the blood until attaching to CD4 protein on Helper T Cells, fusing with the membrane and inserting RNA + Reverse Transcriptase
• Reverse Transcriptase copies viral RNA into a DNA copy and moves to the nucleus (Retrovirus), the mRNA is transcribed and cell makes viral protein
• AIDS interferes with normal function of the immune system, Helper T Cells cannot function, so the immune system cannot fight off infections