What is the basic structure of the HIV virus? What is the function of the glycoproteins of its envelope?
HIV is an RNA virus. In its core there are two strands of RNA and reverse transcriptase molecules. The core is covered by a capsid, a layer of proteins. The capsid then is covered by an envelope having glycoproteins and lipids.
The glycoproteins of the HIV envelope are located on the outer surface of the virus and they are responsible for the recognition of the cells to be infected (the HIV host cell is the CD4 lymphocyte) and for the adhesion of the virus to the cell membrane. (CD4 is a receptor glycoprotein of the outer membrane of some lymphocytes).