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Amino
Acid - An organic compound of the general formula H2N
- CHR - COOH, where R can be one of 20 or
more named because it has both a basic amino group - NH2, and an acidic
carboxyl group - cooh. Proteins
are polymers of amino acids.
CD4 - A protein on the surface of the T-cell which acts as the receptor for the viral envelope protein gp120.
Conformational
change- A change in the physical position of atoms in
a molecule without changing the makeup
of the molecule.
Glycoprotein-A protein with a oligosaccharide (sugar) attached to it
gp120-A glycoprotein on the surface of the HIV virus that allows it to bind to and eventually infect lymphocyte cells.
Immune System
- A system in mammals that recognizes and neutralizes either
foreign substances or self substances that
have been altered to appear foreign.
Infection - Communication of a disease
Lattice- A regular periodic configuration of atoms throughout a crystalline structure.
Lymph nodes - Specialized tissue regions that act as filters for cells, bacteria, and other foreign matter.
Lymphocyte
- A major class of white blood cells - Includes T cells,
B cells, and other cell types important in the
immune response.
Opportunistic Infection - A disease which waits on favorable opportunities such as a lowered immune defense.
Peptide
Bond - The connecting group in a protein chain - CO -
NH - formed by removal of water during the linking of
amino acids - COOH to NHZ. Also called an amide linkage.
Retrovirus-
An RNA virus that contains reverse transcriptase so that it can integrate
copies of its DNA into the DNA of the
host cell. The host cell will the be forced to make copies of the
virus for the infection of other host cells.
T-Cells
- A type of lymphocyte involved in the cellular immune response.
The final stages of its development occur in
the thymus gland.
Virus-
Infections particles composed of nucleic acid and a protein
coat that can reproduce only in living cells.
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