HIV

Question 1

What’s the structure of HIV virus?

Answer 1

• inside capsid: 2 ssRNA molecules covered with nucleocapsid + +RT+ integrase +PR (protease), VPr
• envelope: transmembrane glycoprotein (gp41) SU glycoprotein (gp 120), Matrix protein MA,

Question 2

What does the virus genome look like?

Answer 2

• 2 strands of ssRNA: 5’cap and 3’poly A tail that does not serve as mRNA upon entry
• associated with tRNA that primes DNA synthesis
• 3 genes: gag-pol-env