How do viruses like HIV reproduce?

We know from last week that viruses are excellent vectors for gene therapy because they are able to hold genetic information and enter cells.

Today we learned that viruses can either actively reproduce themselves as part of the lytic cycle, or lie dormant in a host cell’s genome as part of the lysogenic cycle. Retroviruses like HIV must go a step further because they contain RNA instead of DNA. They must convert their RNA into DNA before it can be integrated into a host cell’s genome. Using styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, Q-tips, beads, and colored paper, we modeled this multi-step process ourselves. Your kids did a great job of showing the end result: a group of new HIV viruses getting ready to burst out of the cell and invade more hosts!