MOLECULAR BASIS OF RETROVIRUSES AND HIV INFECTION

Retroviruses are a unique family of RNA viruses characterized by their ability to reverse transcribe RNA into DNA, integrating it into the host genome. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a prominent member of this family, targets CD4+ T lymphocytes, leading to progressive immune system dysfunction. At the molecular level, HIV replication involves viral entry, reverse transcription, integration, transcription, translation, and assembly, all regulated by viral and host factors. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is critical for the development of antiretroviral therapies, vaccine design, and strategies to prevent viral transmission. Insights into viral protein functions, genome organization, and host-virus interactions provide the foundation for modern approaches to HIV management and research [1,2].