Biotech Startup Excellence Award #sciencefather #BiotechStartupExcellence
HIV: Mechanisms, Types, and Advances in Treatment #sciencefather #researchawards #HIV #AIDS #Retrovirus #ImmuneSystem #CD4Cells
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that targets the immune system, specifically CD4+ T cells, which are crucial for immune response. HIV belongs to the genus Lentivirus within the family Retroviridae . It carries its genetic material as single-stranded RNA and uses the enzyme reverse transcriptase to convert RNA into DNA, integrating it into the host's genome, leading to persistent infection. There are two main types: HIV-1 , the most common and virulent form worldwide, and HIV-2 , mainly found in West Africa and less easily transmitted. Upon entry into the body, HIV attaches to CD4 receptors and co-receptors (CCR5 or CXCR4) on T cells. The viral envelope glycoproteins gp120 and gp41 play critical roles in this process. Once fused with the host cell membrane, HIV releases its RNA and enzymes into the cytoplasm. Reverse transcription occurs, creating a double-stranded viral DNA, which is integrated into the host's DNA by the enzyme integrase. This integrated f...
Comments
Post a Comment