Assembly and Budding
Finally, viral RNA and associated proteins are packaged and released from the lymphocyte surface, taking with them a swatch of lymphocyte membrane containing viral surface proteins. The membrane and surface proteins constitute the viral envelope. These proteins will then bind to the receptors on other immune cells facilitating continued infection.
Budding viruses are often exactly like the original particle that initially infected the host. In the case of HIV, however, the resulting viruses exhibit a range of variations which makes treatment difficult.
HIV Sequence of Infection
1. ATTACHMENT
Getting in
2. REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION
From viral RNA to DNA
3. INTEGRATION, TRANSCRIPTION
a. Viral DNA joins host DNA
b. Making multiple viral RNAs
4. TRANSLATION
Producing viral proteins
5. VIRAL PROTEASE
Cleaving viral proteins
6. ASSEMBLY & BUDDING
Getting out