Describe how HIV replicates in the human body

The HIV life style has 7 stages. The first is binding: HIV has glycoproteins embedded in the membrane that help it to bind to CD4 receptors on the surface of a human cell. Next, the HIV envelope and human cell membrane fuse together to allow the HIV to enter the cell. HIV genetic material is RNA and human genetic material is DNA therefore, an enzyme called Reverse Transcriptase is used to convert the viral RNA into DNA. This allows the HIV genetic material to enter the nucleus of the human cell and combine with the cell DNA. HIV releaseas an integrase enzyme that inserts the viral DNA into the human DNA. The HIV uses the human cell replication machinery to produce many HIV protein products which are the units to make up more virus. The replicated HIV proteins containing HIV RNA becomes an immature HIV. This HIV buds off the cell membrane. It uses protease to hydrolyse the protein chain of the immature HIV protein to produce smaller proteins which form to become mature HIV.

Answered by Maree M. Biology tutor

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