Question

What are the 10 steps in the replicative cycle of HIV?

Answer 1

The replicative cycle of HIV consists of several stages, starting with the virus attaching to the CD4 receptor on helper T cells, leading to the integration of viral DNA into the host's genome, and ending with the release of new virions. Anti-HIV drugs target various steps of this cycle, suppressing the virus's ability to replicate and spread.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Replicative Cycle of HIV

The replicative cycle of HIV involves several key steps that enable the virus to infect a host cell and replicate. Understanding these steps can help in the development of treatments for HIV. The HIV infection and replication process includes:

1. Binding of the HIV virus to the CD4 receptor and co-receptors on the surface of the helper T cell.
2. Fusion of the HIV viral envelope with the host cell membrane, followed by the release of the viral capsid into the cell.
3. Reverse transcription of viral RNA into single-stranded DNA by the enzyme reverse transcriptase.
4. Formation of double-stranded viral DNA from the single-stranded DNA.
5. Transportation of the double-stranded viral DNA into the nucleus of the host cell.
6. Integration of viral DNA into the host cell's genome using the enzyme integrase.
7. Activation of viral DNA leading to transcription into mRNA and production of viral proteins.
8. Assembly of new viral particles within the host cell.
9. Budding of newly formed viruses from the host cell membrane.
10. The release of new viral particles ready to infect other cells.

The enzymes reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease are supplied by HIV to facilitate the replication cycle.

Anti-HIV drugs are designed to inhibit these steps, with different drugs targeting different stages of the cycle such as fusion inhibitors, reverse transcriptase inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors.