 HIV-1 (source code)

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= HIV-1
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<HIV-1>, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, is a human <retrovirus> in the genus <Lentivirus> and family <Retroviridae>. It can cause <acquired immunodeficiency syndrome>, an advanced stage of HIV infection; the virus and the disease stage are distinct concepts.<HIV-1 in the NIH HIV Glossary>[definition of HIV-1 and AIDS]{ref}

Its <virion> has a <viral envelope> and an internal core containing the <RNA> genome and replication machinery. During infection, <reverse transcription> produces a <DNA> copy, which becomes integrated into host-cell <DNA> as a <provirus>. This RNA-to-DNA step is a defining part of retroviral replication.<Retroviridae report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses>[Summary and Table 1, genome and replication]{ref} The primate lentiviruses use <CD4> together with a <chemokine receptor> for cell recognition and entry.<Lentivirus report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses>[Distinguishing features]{ref}

An idealized counting example distinguishes molecular and particle quantities. An orthoretroviral particle packages a dimer of genomic <RNA>: a preparation containing 100 intact such particles would contain 200 packaged <RNA> molecules. Counting <RNA> molecules therefore need not give the same number as counting virions.<Retroviridae report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses>[Table 1, orthoretroviral RNA dimer]{ref}

Actual nucleic-acid measurements can also detect material outside complete particles. Particle assembly, integration and successful infection require different evidence, so the measured object must be specified rather than treating every virus-associated signal as the same biological quantity.

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