ELISA test and HIV

Question 1

What does ELISA stand for?

Answer 1

Enzyme linked immunosorbant asssay

Question 2

What does the ELISA Test, test for?

Answer 2

Detects the presence and quantity of a proteins

Question 3

Describe the steps for the ELISA Test

Answer 3

Apply sample to a slide or similar surface to which the antigens attach
Wash several times to remove unattached antigens

Add the antibodies specific to the antigen which binds
Wash surface to remove excess antibody

Add a second antibody that binds to the first which I bound to an enzyme
Wash to remove excess antibody

Add colourless substrate of the Enzyme. Enzyme acts to create a coloured product

Amount of antigen is relative to the intensity of colour

Question 4

What does HIV stand for?

Answer 4

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Question 5

Name the parts of the HIV

Answer 5

Lipid envelope
attachment proteins
capsid
Rna
matrix
reverse transcriptase

Question 6

Can HIV replicate?

Answer 6

It cannot replicate itself instead it uses the host genetic biochemical mechanism to produce components required for HIV

Question 7

How does HIV replicate inside the host cells?

Answer 7

HIV enters blood steam and attachment proteins bind to CD4 protein usually on T-helper cells

Proteins capsid fuses with cell surface membrane and RNA and Enzyme enter the cell

Reverse transcriptase turns the HIV RNA into DNA. The newly made DNA is inserted into T-Cell nucleus DNA

HIV DNA makes messenger RNA which contains instructions for protein synthesis to make HIV

MRNA passes out of nucleus through nuclear pore

Question 8

What cells does HIV target and why?

Answer 8

Helper T-cells by killing or interfering with their normal function.
The lack of Helper T-cells means memory cells can be infected and destroyed and no Killer T cells or B-cells can be stimulated to produce antibodies.

Question 9

HIV does not kill directly instead it _______

Answer 9

prevents the immune system from functioning properly

Question 10

How do antibiotics work and why don’t they work on viruses?

Answer 10

Antibiotics prevent bacteria from making normal cell walls
water would cause cells to best by murein wall in bac. prevents this.
Antibiotic inhibit enzyme required to synthesis the assemble peptide cross-linkages so cell burst and bac. dies

Virus have a protein coat not murein wall and are within hosts own cells so antibiotics can’t reach them