HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

Replication 

• HIV Attachment & Entry
• Surface protein gq120 mediates attachment ( it binds to CD4 which is found on helper T cells & macrophages)
• HIV & SIV require coreceptors for binding (CCR5, CXCR4)
• HIV fuses with cells at the plasma membrane
• HIV has a fusion domain at its N-terminus

HIV Transcription & functions of TAT & REV

• TAT- small HIV proteins essential for HIV replication and functions as an activator of transcription
• TAT binds to HIC RNA region called TAR, in absence of TAT there is a full-length mRNA transcribed.
• REV - required for expressions of HIV structural proteins, interacts with unspliced & singly spliced viral mRNAs to facilitate export from nucleus
• In absence of REV, only multiple spliced viral mRNAs are exported from nucleus.
• TAT & REV are synthesized early ○

Assembly, Release & Maturation 

• Gag & pol polyproteins are assembled as uncleaved precursors
•  PR cleaved polyproteins to final products
• Proteins inhibitors are effective wat to stop production of infectious HIV

AIDS 

• Develop as result of untreated HIV
• Depletion of CD4+ T cells
• First symptom is CD4+ T-cell below 500 cells/microliter of blood
• Full blown aids occurs when cd4+ below 500 cells/microliter 

Transmission

• Sexual
• Parental inoculation or blood transfusion
• Mother to infant
• Breast milk

Detection HIV infection

• ELISA
• West Blot Assay
• Nucleic acid testing (PCR)