A 19-year-old intravenous drug user was exposed to the HIV 3 weeks ago and is experiencing a rapid proliferation in viral load. Which of the following statements best captures an aspect of the process of HIV replication that underlies this proliferation? A) Free HIV RNA is able to attach to the cell coat of CD4⁺cells. B) The cytoplasm of CD4⁺cells provides a protected environment for the replication of RNA by HIV. C) Expression of reverse transcriptase by CD4⁺cells allows replication of HIV cells rather than new lymphocytes. D) HIV is able to change its RNA into DNA to allow for replication by CD4⁺cells.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In order for the HIV to reproduce, it must change its RNA into DNA. It does this by using the reverse transcriptase enzyme. Reverse transcriptase makes a copy of the viral RNA and then in reverse makes another mirror-image copy. The result isdouble-stranded DNA that carries instructions for viral replication. HIV RNA does not directly attach to CD4⁺cells, and RNA is not replicated by HIV itself in the CD4⁺cytoplasm. Reverse transcriptase is not produced by CD4⁺cells, and CD4⁺cells do not directly produce new lymphocytes.

A 19-Year-Old Intravenous Drug User Was Exposed to the HIV