Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) life cycle (cont’d)

What happens during viral activation and transcription in the HIV life cycle?

Activation of latently infected T-cells and transcription of T-cell genes leads to the coordinated transcription of HIV genes, switching from latent infection to active replication.

How does the HIV Tat protein affect the life cycle?

The HIV Tat protein increases viral mRNA production, helping to promote the replication of the virus.

What is the role of the HIV Rev protein in the viral life cycle?

The HIV Rev protein facilitates the production of full-length viral RNA genomes, which are necessary for viral replication.

What happens during viral packaging and budding in the HIV life cycle?

Proteins necessary for entry, reverse transcription, and integration of HIV cDNA are produced.

The viral RNA genome is incorporated into nucleocapsids, which then assemble with gp120/gp41 at the cell surface and bud from the plasma membrane.

What is the role of gp160 in the HIV life cycle?

gp160 is expressed and cleaved into gp120 and gp41, which are essential for the virus's ability to enter host cells and facilitate fusion during the budding process.

How does the viral RNA genome get packaged in the HIV life cycle?

The viral RNA genome is incorporated into nucleocapsids, which then assemble with gp120 and gp41 at the cell surface before budding from the plasma membrane.