HIV

Question 1

What are glycoproteins in HIV?

Answer 1

Used as attachment proteins to bind to body cells.
Have a similar role as antigens

Question 2

Where is the lipid envelope found in a HIV particle?

Answer 2

Surrounds the capsid

Question 3

Where is the matrix found in a HIV particle?

Answer 3

Underneath the lipid envelope, provides structural support.

Question 4

What is a capsid?

Answer 4

A protein layer that encases 2 strands of RNA and reverse transcriptase enzyme

Question 4

What is reverse transcriptase?

Answer 4

An enzyme that can be used to convert RNA to DNA

Question 5

What makes HIV a retrovirus?

Answer 5

RNA

Question 6

1. What happens once HIV particles have circulated through the blood?

Answer 6

They bind to Th cells.

Question 7

2. What do the HIV particles do once they have fused with the Th cell?

Answer 7

The capsid releases its RNA and reverse transcriptase.

Question 8

2. What does reverse transcriptase do?

Answer 8

Converts RNA to DNA

Question 9

3. What happens once RNA has been converted to DNA?

Answer 9

It is inserted into the Th cell’s DNA

Question 10

4. What happens during DNA replication of the Th cell?

Answer 10

The mRNA produced codes for new viral DNA

Question 11

5. Once new HIV is produced, how is it released?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

How does HIV lead to AIDs?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Why don’t antibiotics kill viruses?

Answer 13

There are no metabolic mechanisms for the antibiotic to disrupt.

Question 14

What is the ELISA test?

Answer 14

A test used to detect the presence of HIV particles.

Question 15

1. In the ELISA test, what must the sample be applied to?

Answer 15

A clean surface, so the antigens from the HIV can attach to.

Question 16

2. In the ELISA test, why do we wash the surface once antigens have been applied?

Answer 16

To remove any antigens that may not have fully attached.

Question 17

3. In the ELISA test, what do we add to surface that antigens are attached to?

Answer 17

A complimentary antibody to the antigen that we are trying to detect.

Question 18

4. In the ELISA test, why do we wash the surface again?

Answer 18

To remove excess antibody.

Question 19

5. In the ELISA test, what do we add to the antibody-antigen complex?

Answer 19

An second antibody with an enzyme attached

Question 20

6. In the ELISA test, what do we add to the antigen, antibody and enzyme?

Answer 20

A colourless substrate which produces a colour once bound to the enzyme.

Question 21

7. How do we read an ELISA test?

Answer 21

The colour intensity produced by the enzyme/substrate complex is dependent on the amount of antigen present.