virology III Flashcards
HIV characteristics- genome. what cells get infected? what kinds of genes are encoded?
lentivirus
ssRNA, pos sense (for transmission)
enveloped
undergoes reverse transcription to DNA, whcih can become integrated into host cell chromosome as a provirus
can infect non-dividing cells (macrophages)
encode structural, enzymatic, and regulatory proteins (tat, rev)
3 stages of HIV infection
- primary infection- 2-3 wks of flu-like illness, or asymptomatic
- chronic infection: clinically asymptomatic, may last years. slow decline in circulating CD4 cells. in some cases infection does not progress: long term non-progressors or elite controllers (if not detectable virus)
- AIDS. 10-12 yrs after initial infection. AIDS defining illnesses and/or decline in CD4 cells below 200 cells per microliter (normal 500-1000).
describe the pathogenesis of HIV during the 3 stages of HIV infection
primary infection: high viral replication peaking 2-4 wks post infection. loss of CD4 t cells, esp. in the gut
asymptomatic phase: initial rebound of CD4 levels. virus production and elimination occur at similar levels. steady state virus load predicts time to disease progression.
AIDS: CD4 count drops. leads to death
2 reasons for HIV genetic diversity
- massive and prolonged viral replication- so many generations
- error-prone nature of HIV replication
describe the structure of the HIV virus
central nucleocapsid cre with 2 cpoies of viral genome (ssRNA pos sense) plus core proteins and reverse transcriptase. then the virla envelope made of cellular lipids and virual envelope proteins
HIV structural elements/genes (4)
- LTR (long terminal repeat)- drives viral gene expression
- Gag- core structural protein
- Pol (reverse transcriptase) and other enzymes like protease and integrase
- Env- envelope glycoproteins involved in ceteptor binding ancd cell entry (surface glycoprotein is gp120 and TM glycoprotein is gp41)
HIV accessory genes
Vif, vpr, vpu, nef: enchance viral replication in vivo
Nef- pathogensis
Vif: counteracts action of host protector APOBEC3G
Vpu: counteracts host protector tetherin
HIV regulatory genes
Tat: trans-activates viral transcription
Rev: regulates viral mRNA transport/splicing
HIV binding and entry (3 steps with details). include drug info
- Gp120 binds CD4 receptors causing a conformational change that allows gp120 to bind to essential entry co-receptors like CCR5 and CXCR4
- Gp120 binds to coreceptors CCR5 or CXCR4, causing a second conformational change that exposes a hydrophobic fusion domain at the endterminis of gp41 (ccr5 binding inhibited by maraviroc)
- Gp41 fuses with host cell membrane (inhibited by fuzeon)
R5 strains of HIV
use the CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) receptor as coreceptors for viral entry. CCR5 found on dendritic cells, macrophages, and memory T cells (esp. CD4). predominate in early infection and are typically the HIV species involved in sexual transmission.
X4 strains of HIV
use CXCR4 as a coreceptor. tend to predominate during late infection in about half of patients and can infect resting naive T cells.
how is it that some people are naturally immune to AIDS
mutant CCR5 alleles that have a 32 base deletion in CCR5 genes result in a premature stop codon and lack the CCR5 co-receptor. absence of CCR5 in homozygous mutation protects agains HIV1 transmission; heterozygosity delays disease progression. 11% of people of European descent are heterozygotes..
HIV infection: events post-entry. drugs.
partial uncoating of virus
viral core particle aka preintegration coplex is released and imported to the nucleus
reverse transcription occurs
dsDNA is generated.
DNA is integrated semi-randomly into host chromosome using viral integrase enzyme
RT inhbitors include nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (emtricitabine/ FTC), nucleotide RTIs (tenofovir), other RT inhibitors (efavirenz). integrase inhibitors (raltegravir)
provirus serves as a template for gene expression and RNA synthesis
HIV release and maturation. drugs
newly formed particles assembled and released. undergo proteolytic maturation mediated by viral protease. protease inhbitors include ritonovir, darunavir
3 factors that protect host from HIV
TRIM5alpha, APOBEC3G, tetherin