i really need help on this homework assignment...the question is as follows,:
"Explain why the envelope surrounding an HIV particle is derived from the host cell membrane?"
I truthfully don't have the first idea on how to answer this...please help!
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "HIV particle 'host cell membrane'" to get these possible sources:
(Broken Link Removed)
http://microbiology.suite101.com/article.cfm/hiv_protection
http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/reprint/169/5/2762.pdf
(Broken Link Removed)
http://books.google.com/books?id=BrUoPO1Klh4C&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=hiv+particle+%22host+cell+membrane%22&source=web&ots=cFkhAaOuSu&sig=DT1L73POsi64COYicHfaw5Idn0c
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
To answer this question, let's break it down and understand the concepts involved.
1. What is an envelope?
In the context of viruses, including HIV, an envelope refers to a protective outer layer that surrounds the virus particle. This layer is made up of lipids, proteins, and glycoproteins.
2. What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus that infects certain cells of the immune system, particularly CD4+ T cells.
Now let's explore why the envelope surrounding an HIV particle is derived from the host cell membrane:
1. Mechanism of HIV infection:
When HIV infects a host cell, it interacts with specific receptors on the surface of the host cell, usually CD4 receptors. This allows the virus to enter the host cell.
2. Enveloped virus replication:
During the replication process of enveloped viruses like HIV, they utilize the host cell's machinery and resources. They use the host cell's metabolic pathways, enzymes, and organelles to replicate their genetic material and produce new virus particles.
3. Acquisition of envelope:
As the newly formed HIV particles bud off from the host cell, they acquire a piece of the host cell's membrane, including the proteins and lipids that constitute the envelope. This forms the outer layer of the HIV particle.
4. Implications of envelope origin:
By acquiring a piece of the host cell's membrane, the HIV particle disguises itself and becomes camouflaged. The host cell membrane acts as a protective coating, which helps the virus evade the immune system and facilitates its entry into new host cells.
In summary, the envelope surrounding an HIV particle is derived from the host cell membrane due to the virus's reliance on the host cell's resources and its need to camouflage itself, allowing it to infect new host cells efficiently.