Sandbox Reserved 1741: Difference between revisions

HIV-1 is a bloodborne and sexually transmitted infection in humans. Upon entry to the body, the HIV-1 virus infects white blood cells, or helper T cells. This results in the production of more virus, and eventually cell death and AIDS using the process of reverse transcription (5).  

First, the viron performs endocytosis to enter the host cell. Once in the cell, the viron's uncoats to release the viral RNA and HIV-1 RT. The HIV-1 RT is then able to make proviral DNA from the viral RNA (this is known as reverse transcription), and other enzymes integrate the proviral DNA into the host cells genome within the nucleus. Normal cell transcription then produces mRNA, and facilitates the construction of thousands of new virons, which are then released from the host cell. Over time, the immune system is essentially destroyed, which consequently causes '''Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome''', or AIDS. People who develop AIDS begin to become very ill with fever, a sore throat, and a rash, since the body can no longer actively fight pathogens (5).