Question

Structure of HIV virus.

Answer 1

1. The HIV virus is spherical in shape having a diameter of about 100 nm.
2. It has a cylindrical core, single stranded linear RNA, has an enzyme called Reverse Transcriptase surrounded by a lipid bilayer membrane interspersed with knobs made up of glycoproteins.
3. It is diploid as it has two copies of RNA.
4. It is a retrovirus capable of making a DNA copy of itself with the help of Reverse Transcriptase enzyme.
5. The surface looks like a soccer ball with glycoproteins on the outer covering.
6. The protein projects as 12 knobs.
7. The protein is crucial for the entry of the virus in the host cell.
8. Lysis of the host cell takes place by which the cell contents flow out and the cell dies.