HIV and viruses

Question 1

What does HIV stand for?

Answer 1

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Question 2

What is HIV?

Answer 2

A virus that affects the immune system and eventually leads to AIDS.

Question 3

What does HIV do?

Answer 3

Infects and kills helper T cells which means that the immune system is unable to work effectively

Question 4

What does AIDS stand for?

Answer 4

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Question 5

What is AIDS?

Answer 5

A condition where the immune system deteriorates and eventually fails. People with AIDS are more vulnerable to other infections

Question 6

What do people with HIV develop AIDS?

Answer 6

When helper T cell count is critically low

Question 7

Describe the structure of HIV

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Where does HIV replicate?

Answer 8

Inside the helper T cells of the host cell

Question 9

Explain the process of HIV replication

Answer 9

1. Attachment proteins attach to a receptor molecule on host helper T cell
2. Capsid is released inside the cell and uncoats which releases its RNA into the cell’s cytoplasm
3. Reverse transcriptase makes a complementary strand of DNA from viral RNA
4. Double stranded DNA is made and is inserted into human DNA
5. Host cell enzymes are used to make viral proteins from the viral DNA
6. Viral proteins are assembled into a new viruses which go on to infect other cells

Question 10

What are antiviral drugs?

Answer 10

Drugs designed to target the few virus specific enzymes

Question 11

How can antiviral drugs help people with HIV and AIDS?

Answer 11

They help to slow down the progression of HIV progression and AIDS in an infected person