To understand how different HIV medications work, it is
helpful to be familiar with the life cycle of the HIV virus. All viruses are
like “parasites”. They cannot live outside of a host, and they need to infect a
host cell to replicate. Once inside a cell, a virus will “hijack” the cells
machinery to manufacture new viruses.
The HIV Life Cycle |
HIV infects cells of the immune system. These cells have
receptors on their surface called CD4; they are collectively called CD4 cells.
The main target of HIV is the T-helper cell (also called a T4-lymphocyte). The
T-helper cell is responsible for warning the immune system that there are
pathogens (in this case HIV) present.
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1) Binding and Fusion
Once the virus binds to the T-helper cell, it fuses with the
cell. HIV then enters the cell and releases its RNA (genetic material) into the
cell. This entry can be inhibited by entry inhibitors (enfuvirtide and
maraviroc). The viral RNA then takes over the T-helper cell and turns it into a
HIV “factory”.
DNA versus RNA
DNA and RNA are both genetic material. DNA is like a
“blueprint” to create RNA. The RNA is then used to make proteins. Both are
present in the nucleus of the cell.
2) Reverse Transcription
A HIV enzyme, called reverse transcriptase, converts HIV RNA
into HIV DNA. This is called reverse transcription, because instead of DNA
being used to make RNA, the viral RNA is used to make viral DNA. Reverse
transcription can be blocked by nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase
inhibitors (emtricitabine, lamivudine, zidovudine, stavudine, abacavir, tenofovir,
and didanosine) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (efavirenz,
rilpivirine, etravirine, delavirdine, nevirapine).
3) Integration
The newly formed HIV DNA is transported to the T-helper cell
nucleus, and a HIV enzyme, called integrase, “hides” the DNA. Integrase
incorporates the viral DNA into the T-helper cell’s DNA. At this point the
integrated HIV DNA is called a provirus. This step can be blocked by integrase
inhibitors (raltegravir and elvitegravir).
4) Transcription
A T-helper cell enzyme, called RNA polymerase, is then
directed to make copies of HIV genetic material which will ultimately become
long chains of HIV proteins. There are no approved drugs to inhibit this stage
of the life cycle; however, research is being conducted to develop new drugs
that will effectively block this step.
5) Assembly
A HIV enzyme, called protease, then cuts up the long protein
chains into smaller protein molecules. These will be used to create HIV enzymes
or structural components of the new virus particles. Assembly can be inhibited
by protease inhibitors (tipranavir, indinavir, saquinavir, lopinavir,
fosamprenavir, ritonavir, darunavir, atazanavir, and nelfinavir).
6) Budding
The newly created virus pushes out (“buds”) from the host
T-helper cell. These new viruses must mature before they become infectious.
This involves the processing of viral proteins. There are currently no drugs
that block maturation; however, this is an area of ongoing research.
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Source: http://m.edtreatmentindia.com/