Replication

Infection of the Host Cell (1)

  • The double-stranded DNA molecule now migrates to the nucleus of its host cell.
  • Once it reaches the nucleus, a viral enzyme called integrase joins the replicated HIV DNA to the cell's DNA.
  • The viral DNA now becomes one of the cell's chromosomes and is called a provirus.
  • At this point an individual is infected with and is a carrier of HIV but does not have AIDS.

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