HIV and viruses Flashcards
What does HIV stand for?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
What is HIV?
A virus that affects the immune system and eventually leads to AIDS.
What does HIV do?
Infects and kills helper T cells which means that the immune system is unable to work effectively
What does AIDS stand for?
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
What is AIDS?
A condition where the immune system deteriorates and eventually fails. People with AIDS are more vulnerable to other infections
What do people with HIV develop AIDS?
When helper T cell count is critically low
Describe the structure of HIV
Core - contains RNA and reverse transcriptase
Capsid - outer coating of protein
Envelope - made from membrane stolen from the cell membrane of a previous of host cells
Attachment proteins - help HIV attach to host helper T cells
Where does HIV replicate?
Inside the helper T cells of the host cell
Explain the process of HIV replication
- Attachment proteins attach to a receptor molecule on host helper T cell
- Capsid is released inside the cell and uncoats which releases its RNA into the cell’s cytoplasm
- Reverse transcriptase makes a complementary strand of DNA from viral RNA
- Double stranded DNA is made and is inserted into human DNA
- Host cell enzymes are used to make viral proteins from the viral DNA
- Viral proteins are assembled into a new viruses which go on to infect other cells
What are antiviral drugs?
Drugs designed to target the few virus specific enzymes
How can antiviral drugs help people with HIV and AIDS?
They help to slow down the progression of HIV progression and AIDS in an infected person