What does AIDS stand for
Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
When and in which group was AIDS first reported
In the early 1980s, in young male homosexuals
What virus causes AIDS
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Who discovered HIV and when
The Pasteur Institute in France and the National Institute of Health in the USA in 1984
When was the name HIV officially adopted
1986
What is the major cell type infected by HIV
Helper T-lymphocytes (major cells of the immune system)
How does an HIV infection lead to immunodeficiency
The infection decreases the number of Helper T-cells, making the person susceptible to other diseases
What is the overall shape of the HIV virion
Spherical
What is the shape of the HIV capsid
Conical
What lies between the viral envelope and the capsid
Matrix proteins
What does the viral core of HIV contain
Two single strands of viral RNA and enzymes for replication
How many single strands of RNA does the HIV genome have
Two (identical)
What is the function of reverse transcriptase in HIV
To convert the viral RNA genome into viral DNA
What is the function of the integrase enzyme in HIV
To incorporate the viral DNA into the host DNA
What is the function of the protease enzyme in HIV
To break large structural proteins into smaller functional units
How many genes does HIV have, and how many encode structural proteins
HIV has nine genes; three of them encode structural proteins
