Definition
The HIV-1 particle, or virion, transmits the genetic information of the virus from one host cell to the next. There are two morphologically distinct forms of the virion, called “immature” and “mature.” The immature virion is the form that assembles and initiates budding at the plasma membrane of an infected host cell (Budding). This form is not capable of transmitting infection. During or immediately after budding, the virion reorganizes into the mature form. The mature virion is fully infectious.
Overview
The HIV-1 virion is spherical in shape, with a diameter of about 100 nm (1/10,0000 of a millimeter). The virion is delimited by an outer coat – the viral envelope – that surrounds and protects the internal components of the virus and contains the proteins that allow the virus to recognize new host cells. Inside the virion are viral structural proteins that assemble into a shell, or capsid, that further surrounds and organizes the viral genome. The HIV-1 genome consists of...
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Pornillos, O., Ganser-Pornillos, B.K. (2018). HIV-1 Virion Structure. In: Hope, T.J., Richman, D.D., Stevenson, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of AIDS. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7101-5_56
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