Biology Research. Summary of AIDS and how it is transmitted.

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AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome)

Intro

* Aids is caused by HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus), as HIV damages the immune cells, the body becomes more vulnerable to infections, which it will have difficulty in fighting off. It is at the point of very advanced HIV infection that a person is said to have AIDS. It can be years before HIV has damaged the immune system enough for AIDS to develop.

Structure

* HIV particles are 0.1 microns in diameter and can only be seen through an electron microscope.

* They have a lipid coat covering them and 72 spikes project from this, which are formed from proteins. Underneath the lipid coat is the matrix.

* In the core of the virus are three enzymes which allow reverse transcription. The viruses genetic material consists of 2 identical RNA strands meaning it is a retrovirus. HIV is made up from 9 genes

Lifecycle

* Entry

o HIV can only replicate in human cells. It begins when the virus particle collides with a cell with CD4.

o The spikes then stick to the CD4 and fuse with the cells membrane

o