Reproductive cycle of an HIV virus - Essay Example

Question: Events that Occur During the Reproductive Cycle of an HIV Virus The HIV virus first attaches itself to a glycoprotein on the surface of immune cells. The glycoprotein is called CD4. The virus reproduces mainly by replication resulting into a larger number of the viruses in the immune cells such as the dendritic cells.The first step in the development of the virus is its attachment to chemokine receptors on the upper regions of a given CD4 cell. The receptor is called of the virus into the nucleus is followed by its combination with the cell DNA.

CCR5 and it is the initial point of entry of the HIV virus into the cell. 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.The fourth stage is integration. The virus in the cell nucleus of CD4 secretes enzyme integrase. The enzyme enables the virus to incorporate its viral DNA into the DNA of the host CD4 cell.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 virus. Work CitedDuzgunes, Nejat. Mechanisms and Specificity of HIV Entry into Host Cells. Boston, MA: Springer US, 2012. Print.