HIV

Question 1

Describe HIV’s structure

Answer 1

-plasma membrane/envelope
-attachment proteins on the surface
-Capsid (protein)
-RNA (within capsid)
-reverse transcriptase (within capsid)

Question 2

How does HIV spread

Answer 2

• sexual intercourse
• unscreened blood transfusion
• intravenous drug abuse (sharing needles)
  -infected mother to foetus across placenta and breast milk

Question 3

Which bodily fluids spread HIV ?

Answer 3

-semen
-vaginal fluids
-breast milk
-blood
-lining inside the anus

Question 4

How does HIV cause disease?

Answer 4

-HIV enters the bloodstream and attachment proteins bind to the CD4 proteins on the T-helper cells
-HIV protein capsule fuses with T-helper cell and injects viral RNA and viral enzymes into cell
-Reverse transcriptase makes viral DNA from viral RNA template
-Viral DNA is inserted into the T-helper cells nucleus
-copies of viral DNA are then made via mitosis
-Virus then bursts out of the T-helper cells which destroys the cell and damages the immune system

Question 5

What is an opportunistic disease?

Answer 5

Infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in individuals with weekend immune systems, including people with HIV

Question 6

What does AIDS stand for

Answer 6

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Question 7

AIDS antibiotics

Answer 7

Anti-viral drugs are available to slow progression of HIV infection and AIDS anti-viral drugs, target virus-specific enzymes (ie reverse transcriptase inhibitors)