Lifecycle & Propagation of HIV

Question 1

Step 1: Attachment

Answer 1

Involves interaction of the virion with specific ‘receptor sites’ on the surface of the host cell

Question 2

Step 2: Penetration

Answer 2

Viral particle is taken into the cell- often involves endocytosis and the subsequent appearance of endosomes in the cell

Question 3

Step 3: Uncoating

Answer 3

The separation of the viral nucleic acid from the capsid

Question 4

Step 4: Reverse Transcription

Answer 4

From RNA to DNA using reverse transcriptase

Question 5

Step 5: Eclipse/Replication

Answer 5

Viral DNA particles present as small non infective subunits within the host cell- polymerase insertion and ligase enzymes active
- Intense synthesis of viral components (protein and RNA)

Question 6

Step 6: Assembly

Answer 6

Newly synthesized viral genomes and capsid proteins come together to form new viruses

Question 7

Step 7: Release

Answer 7

HIV is enveloped- viruses leave the host cell by a budding process resembling exocytosis