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Overview ..... Attachment ..... Reverse Transcription ..... Integration - Translation ..... Protease ..... Assembly

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

 

Overview

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) presents a complex knot for scientists to unravel. After initial contact and attachment to a cell of the immune system (e.g. lymphocytes, monocytes), there is a cascade of intracellular events. The endproduct of these events is the production of massive numbers of new viral particles, death of the infected cells, and ultimate devastation of the immune system. However, the knot IS becoming unraveled. These pages attempt to simplify HIV infection at the cellular level. The following diagram shows a number of steps from initial attachment of a viral particle to a lymphocyte through budding of new viruses from that cell.

 


assembly and budding viral protease translation integration and transcription reverse transcription attachment HIV Infection Cycle

1. ATTACHMENT
Getting in

2. REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION
From viral RNA to DNA

3. INTEGRATION, TRANSCRIPTION
a. Viral DNA joins host DNA
b. Making multiple viral RNAs

4. TRANSLATION
Producing viral proteins

5. VIRAL PROTEASE
Cleaving viral proteins

6. ASSEMBLY & BUDDING
Getting out

  

 

Some Keywords:

HIV, AIDS, immunosupression, reverse transcription, CD4 lymphocyte, DNA transcription, translation + protein, protease inhibitor, AZT, virus mutation

 

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