HIV Virology And Immunology 30.11.23

Question 1

What is the virology of HIV? 6 steps

Answer 1

1. Attachment – viral and cell receptors e.g. HIV
2. Cell entry – only central viral ‘core’ carrying the nucleic acid and some associated proteins enter host cell
3. Interaction with host cells – use cell materials (enzymes, amino acids, nucleotides) for their replication; subvert host cell defence mechanisms
4. Replication – may localize in nucleus in, in cytoplasm or at both; production of progeny viral nucleic acid and proteins
5. Assembly – occurs in nucleus, in cytoplasm or at cell membrane
6. Release – by bursting open of cell; or by exocytosis from the cell over a period of time

Question 2

What are the 9 steps of replication of HIV?

Answer 2

Attachment
Entry
Uncoating
Reverse transcription
Genome integration
Transcription of viral RNA
Splicing of mRNA and translation into proteins
Assembly of new virions
Budding

Question 3

What happens when gp120 binds to CD4?

Answer 3

It induces a conformation change in gp120

Question 4

What cells do HIV infect?

Answer 4

HIV infects cells that express CD4 and the interaction between CD4 and gp120 is conserved among all primate lentiviruses