HIV Flashcards
What are glycoproteins in HIV?
Used as attachment proteins to bind to body cells.
Have a similar role as antigens
Where is the lipid envelope found in a HIV particle?
Surrounds the capsid
Where is the matrix found in a HIV particle?
Underneath the lipid envelope, provides structural support.
What is a capsid?
A protein layer that encases 2 strands of RNA and reverse transcriptase enzyme
What is reverse transcriptase?
An enzyme that can be used to convert RNA to DNA
What makes HIV a retrovirus?
RNA
- What happens once HIV particles have circulated through the blood?
They bind to Th cells.
- What do the HIV particles do once they have fused with the Th cell?
The capsid releases its RNA and reverse transcriptase.
- What does reverse transcriptase do?
Converts RNA to DNA
- What happens once RNA has been converted to DNA?
It is inserted into the Th cell’s DNA
- What happens during DNA replication of the Th cell?
The mRNA produced codes for new viral DNA
- Once new HIV is produced, how is it released?
HIV particles build up inside the cell. The cell eventually bursts and the new particles take part of the lipid envelop with it. The Th cell dies.
How does HIV lead to AIDs?
It destroys the number of Th cells in the body. This means that you become immunocompromised, as you do not have sufficient Th cells to fight infections, is you become more ill.
Why don’t antibiotics kill viruses?
There are no metabolic mechanisms for the antibiotic to disrupt.
What is the ELISA test?
A test used to detect the presence of HIV particles.
- In the ELISA test, what must the sample be applied to?
A clean surface, so the antigens from the HIV can attach to.
- In the ELISA test, why do we wash the surface once antigens have been applied?
To remove any antigens that may not have fully attached.
- In the ELISA test, what do we add to surface that antigens are attached to?
A complimentary antibody to the antigen that we are trying to detect.
- In the ELISA test, why do we wash the surface again?
To remove excess antibody.
- In the ELISA test, what do we add to the antibody-antigen complex?
An second antibody with an enzyme attached
- In the ELISA test, what do we add to the antigen, antibody and enzyme?
A colourless substrate which produces a colour once bound to the enzyme.
- How do we read an ELISA test?
The colour intensity produced by the enzyme/substrate complex is dependent on the amount of antigen present.
