Environment And Natural Resources

The HIV life cycle can be summarized as follows:
Entry and Integration: The virus enters the host body and attaches to CD4 receptors on helper T-cells. It injects its RNA and viral enzymes into the host cell.

Reverse Transcription: Viral RNA is converted into DNA by reverse transcriptase.

Integration: The viral DNA integrates into the host genome with the help of integrase enzyme.

Replication and Assembly: The host cell machinery is used to produce viral RNA and proteins. New viruses are assembled.

Release and Maturation: Newly formed viruses bud off from the host cell, ready to infect other cells. Over time, the number of helper T-cells decreases, leading to immune system failure (AIDS).