HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Like all viruses, HIV cannot grow or reproduce on its own. In order to make new copies of itself it must infect the cells of a living organism.
The Structure of HIV
What does HIV look like?
In this computer generated image, the large object is a
human CD4+ white blood cell, and the spots on its surface
and the spiky blue objects in the foreground
represent HIV particles.
Outside of a human cell, HIV exists as roughly spherical particles (sometimes called virions). The surface of each particle is studded with lots of little spikes.human CD4+ white blood cell, and the spots on its surface
and the spiky blue objects in the foreground
represent HIV particles.
An HIV particle is around 100-150 billionths of a metre in diameter. That's about the same as:
- 0.1 microns
- 4 millionths of an inch
- one twentieth of the length of an E. coli bacterium
- one seventieth of the diameter of a human CD4+ white blood cell.
HIV particles surround themselves with a coat of fatty material known as the viral envelope (or membrane). Projecting from this are around 72 little spikes, which are formed from the proteins gp120 and gp41. Just below the viral envelope is a layer called the matrix, which is made from the protein p17.
The proteins gp120 and gp41 together make up the spikes
that project from HIV particles, while p17 forms the matrix
and p24 forms the core.
The viral core (or capsid) is usually bullet-shaped and is made from the protein p24. Inside the core are three enzymes required for HIV replication called reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease. Also held within the core is HIV's genetic material, which consists of two identical strands of RNA.that project from HIV particles, while p17 forms the matrix
and p24 forms the core.
What is RNA?
HIV belongs to a special class of viruses called retroviruses. Within this class, HIV is placed in the subgroup of lentiviruses. Other lentiviruses include SIV, FIV, Visna and CAEV, which cause diseases in monkeys, cats, sheep and goats. Almost all organisms, including most viruses, store their genetic material on long strands of DNA. Retroviruses are the exception because their genes are composed of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid).RNA has a very similar structure to DNA. However, small differences between the two molecules mean that HIV's replication process is a bit more complicated than that of most other viruses.
How many genes does HIV have?
HIV has just nine genes (compared to more than 500 genes in a bacterium, and around 20,000-25,000 in a human). Three of the HIV genes, called gag, pol and env, contain information needed to make structural proteins for new virus particles. The other six genes, known as tat, rev, nef, vif, vpr and vpu, code for proteins that control the ability of HIV to infect a cell, produce new copies of virus, or cause disease.At either end of each strand of RNA is a sequence called the long terminal repeat, which helps to control HIV replication.
HIV life cycle
Entry
Reverse Transcription and Integration
Once inside the cell, the HIV enzyme reverse transcriptase converts the viral RNA into DNA, which is compatible with human genetic material. This DNA is transported to the cell's nucleus, where it is spliced into the human DNA by the HIV enzyme integrase. Once integrated, the HIV DNA is known as provirus.Transcription and Translation
HIV provirus may lie dormant within a cell for a long time. But when the cell becomes activated, it treats HIV genes in much the same way as human genes. First it converts them into messenger RNA (using human enzymes). Then the messenger RNA is transported outside the nucleus, and is used as a blueprint for producing new HIV proteins and enzymes.Assembly, Budding and Maturation
This electron microscope photo shows newly formed HIV particles budding from a human cell.
The newly matured HIV particles are ready to infect another cell and begin the replication process all over again. In this way the virus quickly spreads through the human body. And once a person is infected, they can pass HIV on to others in their bodily fluids.
Main sources:
- " Understanding How HIV Causes AIDS", NIH Health Topics
- " Molecular strategies to inhibit HIV-1 replication", Nielsen MH, Pedersen FS and Kjems J, Retrovirology
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