HIV is what type of virus?

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Prepare for the NBME Microbiology Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each query comes with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

HIV is what type of virus?

Explanation:
HIV is a retrovirus. It has an RNA genome, but it carries its own reverse transcriptase, which converts that RNA into DNA after the virus enters a cell. That DNA is then integrated into the host’s genome by the viral integrase, creating a provirus that can be transcribed by the cell’s own machinery. This reverse transcription and integration into host DNA define retroviruses, setting HIV apart from other RNA viruses that replicate their genomes directly in the cytoplasm or from DNA viruses. It also isn’t a bacteriophage, which are viruses that infect bacteria.

HIV is a retrovirus. It has an RNA genome, but it carries its own reverse transcriptase, which converts that RNA into DNA after the virus enters a cell. That DNA is then integrated into the host’s genome by the viral integrase, creating a provirus that can be transcribed by the cell’s own machinery. This reverse transcription and integration into host DNA define retroviruses, setting HIV apart from other RNA viruses that replicate their genomes directly in the cytoplasm or from DNA viruses. It also isn’t a bacteriophage, which are viruses that infect bacteria.

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