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HIV Life Cycle

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus that primarily attacks CD4+ T cells and can lead to AIDS if untreated. The HIV life cycle consists of several key stages: Attachment, Entry, Reverse Transcription, Integration, Transcription & Translation, Assembly, and Release, each critical for the virus's replication. Understanding this life cycle is essential for developing antiretroviral therapies that target various stages of the infection.

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38 views12 pages

HIV Life Cycle

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus that primarily attacks CD4+ T cells and can lead to AIDS if untreated. The HIV life cycle consists of several key stages: Attachment, Entry, Reverse Transcription, Integration, Transcription & Translation, Assembly, and Release, each critical for the virus's replication. Understanding this life cycle is essential for developing antiretroviral therapies that target various stages of the infection.

Uploaded by

umbulo gammo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Life Cycle of HIV

• Understanding How HIV Infects and Replicates


in the Human Body
Introduction to HIV
• • HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a
retrovirus that attacks CD4+ T cells.
• • Leads to AIDS if untreated.
Overview of the HIV Life Cycle
• • HIV infects CD4+ T cells in several stages.
• • Key steps: Attachment, Entry, Reverse
Transcription, Integration, Transcription &
Translation, Assembly, and Release.
Step 1 – Attachment (Binding)
• • HIV’s gp120 protein binds to the CD4
receptor on T cells.
• • Co-receptors CCR5 or CXCR4 are needed for
viral entry.
Step 2 – Entry (Fusion)
• • HIV envelope fuses with the host cell
membrane.
• • Viral RNA and enzymes enter the host cell.
Step 3 – Reverse Transcription
• • HIV’s reverse transcriptase converts viral
RNA into DNA.
• • This allows the virus to integrate into the
host genome.
Step 4 – Integration
• • Viral integrase inserts HIV DNA into the
host’s genome.
• • The virus can remain latent for years.
Step 5 – Transcription & Translation
• • Host cell machinery transcribes HIV DNA
into mRNA.
• • mRNA is translated into viral proteins.
Step 6 – Assembly
• • Viral proteins and RNA assemble at the cell
membrane.
• • New viral particles begin to form.
Step 7 – Budding & Maturation
• • Immature viruses bud off from the host cell.
• • HIV protease processes proteins to form
mature, infectious viruses.
Conclusion
• • Understanding the HIV life cycle helps in
drug development.
• • Antiretroviral therapy (ART) targets different
stages to control infection.
References
• • Sources: CDC, WHO, NIH, scientific
textbooks.

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