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Glossary

Selected words and phrases

primary mutation – see major mutation.

base – (also called nucleotide) – the building blocks in DNA that form amino acids. There are four bases represented by the letters A (adenine), T (thymine), C (cytosine) and G (guanine). In RNA the T is replaced by U (uricil).

Genetics, HIV structure and life cycle

induction (in the liver) – refers to the body processing a drug more quickly by inducing (or increasing) more of the enzymes that clear the drug. This leads to lower drug levels.

life cyle – the steps for an organism to reproduce or replicate.

The HIV life cycle includes:

  • Attachment and binding to a CD4 cell).
  • Fusion or joining the cell.
  • Reverse transcription. When the single strand RNA becomes a double strand DNA.
  • Integration. When the new double-strand virus enter the CD4 cell nucleus and is integrated into humn DNA.
  • Replication. When new viral material is produced from the nucleus.
  • Assembly and maturation. When new viral mateiral is cut up and reassembed to become new active virus.
  • Budding. When the new virus leaves the CD4 cell.

See: HIV life cycle – how different drugs work in different ways.

malaria – a parasite infection of red blood cells.