Reference no: EM133366965
Assignment:
Comment on each one
1. A retrovirus is a virus that contains RNA and the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is used to convert RNA to DNA that can be integrated with the host cell DNA. HIV is considered a retrovirus. CD4 cells are an important part of our immune system and help fight off infections. When the retrovirus (HIV) enters the CD4 cells, and creates new copies of the virus. The CD4 eventually will swell and burst, resulting in cell death. This is a repeated cycle. The more CD4 cells that are destroyed, the greater the risk of developing a serious infection. If the CD4 count is too low (<200), then the disease has progressed to AIDS.
2. Human immunodeficiency virus, more commonly known as HIV is a virus that stores its genetic material as RNA instead of DNA which is also called a retrovirus. "When HIV enters a human cell, it releases its RN" (Cachay, 2022) Once HIV is in someone's system, it attacks and kills the CD4 cell which is a type of lymphocyte, or white blood cell. The purpose of white blood cells is to protect against any pathogens, but if they are being destroyed then it causes the affected person to have a weakened immune system. Because of this, anything as little as a common cold can be very fatal because there are not enough lymphocytes to fight against the pathogens.
3. HIV is a retrovirus that infects humans. The virus attaches itself to specific white blood cells, called CD4 T cells. CD4 Cell (aka Helper T Cell) is a type of lymphocyte. CD4 T lymphocytes (CD4 cells) help coordinate the immune response by stimulating other immune cells, such as macrophages, B lymphocytes (B cells), and CD8 T lymphocytes (CD8 cells), to fight infection. These cells are important components of the immune system, helping to fight infections in the body. But HIV renders them harmful, triggering those cells to make multiple copies of itself while gradually destroying the T cells. This process eventually leads to the death of these cells and severe immunodeficiency of the individual who has acquired the infection. Once the CD4 count becomes too low, host immune defenses cannot fend off opportunistic infections and malignancies. This disrupts the processes of the healthy immune system and makes individuals susceptible to many diseases. In summary, HIV weakens the immune system by destroying CD4 cells.