Hiv is an acronym for the English denomination of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus which belongs to the Lentivirus gender, which then belongs to the Retroviridae family. Its main features, which are expressed by its name and family ,are its behaviour as a slow-action virus which infects the host organism, although its typical symptoms only appear after a certain period of time.
Hiv is a retrovirus, it therefore it belongs to a virus group which own their own typical genetic inheritance a filament of ribonucleic acid (Rna). The reverse transcriptase enzyme present in these viruses allows the synthesis of Dna starting from the viral Rna which is used as a mould when Hiv infects a cell ( particularly a T. lymphocyte, its target in human beings). In other terms, when it infects a host cell with the aim of reproducing itself, the retrovirus transforms its own Rna in Dna as a consequence of reverse transcriptase. In this way the viral Dna filament can integrate in the host Dna and “teach” the cell how to synthesize the necessary components to form new viruses. The nucleic acid filament is protected by a protein shell named capsid, as well as by a membrane which derives from the plasmatic membrane of the host cell. On the exterior surface of the virus molecules some glycoproteins stick out. These have the function of recognising the target cells and help the penetratrion of Hiv.
Hiv virus is the cause of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (Aids). Working on the CD4 proteins of the cellular membrane, it penetrates T. lymphocytes which are responsible for the immune system of the organism, therefore exposing the infected person to all kinds of illnesses.
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