An In-Depth Look at HIV and Its Lifecycle

HIV is a severe virus that targets the immune system, causing irreversible damage. Although commonly confused with AIDS, it’s important to note that AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, not a separate disease. There are primarily two types of HIV: HIV-1, which leads to AIDS, and HIV-2, which causes similar but less common conditions. The virus’s journey inside the body involves a complex seven-stage process, essential to understanding its impact and treatment.

Knowing each stage of HIV’s lifecycle aids comprehension of how the virus infects immune cells:

Step 1 – Binding
The virus attaches to CD4+ white blood cells, key players in immune defense, via specific receptors. CCR5 antagonist drugs can inhibit this binding.

Step 2 – Fusion
The HIV envelope merges with the CD4+ cell membrane, allowing entry of the virus into the cell. Fusion inhibitors may be prescribed at this point.

Step 3 – Reverse Transcription
Inside the host cell, the virus employs reverse transcriptase enzyme to convert its RNA into DNA, integrating into the cell’s nucleus. Non-nucleoside and nucleoside inhibitors help prevent this process.

Step 4 – Integration
The viral DNA inserts itself into the host's DNA, facilitated by integrase. Inhibitors of this enzyme can block the step.

Step 5 – Replication
Once integrated, the virus hijacks the cell's machinery to produce new HIV proteins, resulting in the formation of complete viral particles.

Step 6 – Assembly
The newly created proteins and HIV RNA gather at the cell surface, assembling into immature HIV viruses.

Step 7 – Budding
The mature HIV particles leave the host cell, releasing protease enzyme to process viral proteins, maturing the virus into an infectious form.