Q.Name the virus responsible for causing AIDS. Diagrammatically describe the structure of this virus. (1+2) OR What is vaccination? How can inactivated viruses act as vaccines? (1+2)

HIV, the virus causing AIDS, is a retrovirus with an envelope, matrix, conical capsid, diploid RNA genome, and reverse transcriptase enzyme.

Virus: AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a member of the retrovirus family that specifically infects and destroys helper T-lymphocytes (CD4+ T-cells).

Structure of HIV (described, as a diagram cannot be rendered here):

• Outer envelope: a lipid bilayer, derived from the host cell membrane during budding, studded with viral glycoprotein spikes — gp120 (outer knob) anchored via gp41 (transmembrane stalk) — these mediate attachment to the CD4 receptor on host T-cells.
• Matrix protein (p17): a layer just beneath the envelope.
• Capsid (p24): a cone-shaped protein shell enclosing the viral core. …