HIV Infection Process Diagram

This diagram provides a clear, step-by-step illustration of how the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) initiates infection by entering a CD4+ T-cell. The sequence begins with the HIV virion's gp120 protein binding to the CD4 receptor on the T-cell surface. This interaction triggers a conformational change in gp120, allowing it to then engage with a co-receptor (like CCR5 or CXCR4). Following co-receptor binding, the gp41 protein undergoes a dramatic change, extending a fusion peptide into the T-cell membrane. This critical step leads to the fusion of the viral envelope with the T-cell's plasma membrane, creating a pore through which the viral core, containing the genetic material, enters the host cell's cytoplasm, marking the start of the infection.

HIV - viral entry - cd4 t cell - infection - membrane fusion - immunology