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Pathogenic Microorganisms

HIV, AIDS and the structure of the virus

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 01, 02 and 03

Overview

Recall questions on HIV as a retrovirus, its RNA, capsid, envelope and gp120, the roles of reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease, how HIV is transmitted, the loss of T helper cells, opportunistic infections and AIDS, and antiretroviral therapy.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Describe the genetic material and the capsid of an HIV particle, and explain what makes it a retrovirus.

Key term

What type of virus is HIV, and what does that term mean?

Key term

What genetic material is carried inside a single HIV particle?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What type of virus is HIV, and what does that term mean?

    Model answer

    HIV is a retrovirus, meaning its genetic material is RNA which is copied into DNA once inside the host cell.

  2. 2

    What genetic material is carried inside a single HIV particle?

    Model answer

    Each particle contains two identical single strands of RNA.

  3. 3

    Name the three enzymes packaged inside an HIV particle.

    Model answer

    Reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease.

  4. 4

    Where in an HIV particle are its enzymes located?

    Model answer

    They are enclosed within the capsid, alongside the two strands of RNA.

  5. 5

    What forms the outer covering of an HIV particle, and where does it come from?

    Model answer

    HIV is surrounded by a lipid envelope taken from the plasma membrane of the last host cell it left, studded with viral glycoproteins.

  6. 6

    What is the function of the glycoprotein gp120 on the surface of HIV?

    Model answer

    It is the attachment protein, binding to the CD4 receptor on the surface of a T helper cell.

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