Reproductive cycle of an HIV virus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reproductive cycle of an HIV virus - Essay Example The second stage is the fusion phase. After attaching to the CD4 glycoprotein, the membrane of the virus fuses with the cell membrane. The fusion of the two membranes gives way for the virus to enter the host immune cell. Reverse transcription is the third stage. When the virus enters the cell, it releases an enzyme attributable to HIV called reverse transcriptase. The enzyme alters the genetic structure of CD4 thus changing the structure from HIV RNA to HIV DNA. This change produces an alteration that allows the virus to enter into the nucleus of the CD4 cell. The entry of the virus into the nucleus is precedes its combination with the cell DNA. Replication marks the fifth stage of the reproduction of the HIV virus. Immediately after integration, the HIV in the CD4 cell uses the cell’s mechanism to replicate itself by making long chains of HIV proteins. The long chains form a basis for the evolution of more HIV (Duzgunes 4). The sixth stage is assembly. After the formation of the HIV proteins, the HIV RNA and the proteins move to the superficial parts of the host cell. Once at the surface of the cell, the two assemble into mild form of the HIV virus. Lastly, the HIV virus enters the budding stage. This stage is characterized by the movement of the mild form of the virus out of the CD4 cell. The recently assembled virus then releases enzyme protease. The enzyme breaks up the long protein chains that constitute the mils and immature virus. The smaller pieces of the chain’s proteins combine and result into the formation of a mature and highly infectious HIV