Explain how and why HIV a retrovirus converts its genome to

Solution

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) :

Retrovirus convert its genome to a provirus:

Viruses packaging single stranded positive sense RNA which is reverse transcribed to double stranded DNA upon infection. The enzyme catalyzing this reaction is the virally encoded reverse transcriptase which also defines this group.   Once converted to DNA, the viral genome integrates into the cell genome as provirus which is then used template to synthesize viral proteins and genome and produce new viral particles.

Step:1

Attachment of CD4 receptor to coreceptor

Step 2

Fusion

Step 3

RNA conversion

Step 4

Integration

Step 5

Packing and Budding

Step 6

RNA production.