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HIV Life Cycle

Topic

  • Cell Biology
  • Cell Structure & Function
  • Microbiology
  • Viruses
  • Pathogens & Disease

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Animations

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege

Duration

00:04:52
Saved By
13 Users
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Description

This animation shows how HIV infects a cell and replicates itself using reverse transcriptase.

HIV is a retrovirus that infects a type of immune system cell called a helper T cell. As shown in the animation, HIV binds to receptors on its host cell’s surface and fuses with the cell membrane to deposit its genetic material and viral proteins into the cell. One viral protein, the enzyme reverse transcriptase, converts HIV’s RNA genome into DNA. The viral DNA is then integrated into the host cell’s chromosomes, tricking the cell into making many copies of HIV that can infect other cells.

This animation is a clip from a 2007 Holiday Lecture Series, AIDS: Evolution of an Epidemic. Depending on students’ background, it may be helpful to pause the animation at various points to discuss different structures or steps in the life cycle of HIV.

Key Terms

CD4 receptor, chemokine coreceptor (CCR5), helper T cell, infection, integrase, retrovirus, reverse transcriptase, RNA genome

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Version History

Date Published 02.05.07

Materials

Large (MOV) 22 MB
Large (WMV) 22 MB
Small (MOV) 10 MB
Small (WMV) 10 MB

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Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator in front of a 3D model of the HIV virus
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1-Minute Tips

HIV Life Cycle Animation

Ann Brokaw describes how she uses the HIV life cycle animation in her three levels of high school biology classes, taking advantage of the animation’s strong curricular connections to multiple topics, including immunology and cell biology.
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