Viruses
This structural feature, present in many enveloped viruses, is acquired from host membranes and contains viral glycoproteins essential for attachment and entry.
What is the viral envelope?
Retroviruses reverse the normal direction of genetic information flow by creating DNA from this template.
What is RNA?
This system allows organisms to defend themselves from pathogens while distinguishing self from nonself.
What is the immune system?
This is the first line of defense in the immune system, including physical and cellular components.
What is innate immunity?
This step in the viral life cycle involves the release of the viral genome from its capsid, often triggered by endosomal acidification or receptor‑induced conformational changes.
What is uncoating?
This virally encoded enzyme allows retroviruses to synthesize DNA from RNA.
What is reverse transcriptase?
These white blood cells arise from stem cells in the bone marrow and can travel through the lymphatic system.
What are leukocytes?
These cells are first to encounter pathogens and later present antigens to helper T cells.
What are dendritic cells?
This common virus is annoying rather than deadly and causes the common cold.
What is the rhinovirus?
These flanking sequences in retroviral genomes assist in integrating viral DNA into the host DNA.
What are long terminal repeats
An improper functioning of the immune system can lead to the body attacking its own tissues, producing this category of diseases.
What are autoimmune diseases?
These innate immune cells digest cellular debris and pathogens.
What are macrophages?
This term refers to the complete virus particle consisting of nucleic acid and its protein coat.
What is a virion?
This major human disease is caused by a retrovirus and has driven decades of global research.
What is AIDS?
Vaccines work by exposing the body to a weakened or killed pathogen so the immune system can retain this.
What is immunological memory?
These lymphocytes kill infected or cancerous cells and work with dendritic cells to decide whether to activate acquired immunity.
What are natural killer (NK) cells?
These structures allow viruses to attach to host cells and are found on the outer surface of many viruses.
What are protein spikes?
Retroviral genomes universally contain genes encoding coat proteins, reverse transcriptase, and these membrane-associated proteins.
What are envelope proteins?
Food allergies may provoke this type of severe immune reaction that can be life‑threatening.
What is anaphylaxis?
(or “What are severe allergic reactions?”)
Dendritic cells travel to this organ after endocytosing invaders, where they present antigens to helper T cells.
What is the spleen?