Evaluation:
Published: 01.12.1996.
Language: English
Level: Secondary school
Literature: n/a
References: Not used
  • Essays 'What Is HIV', 1.
Extract

Are you the next victim of the HIV virus? What really is HIV and why is it so important for us to know about?
HIV has a very complex yet simple structure. It consists of a flexible outer membrane, which surrounds the protein shell known as a capsid. The membrane is filled with glycoproteins. Inside the capsid there are two strands of RNA, which are identical in every way. The RNA is what stores the information to infect the HIV virus. HIV also contains an enzyme called reverse transriptase. That's just the basic structure of the virus.

Atlants