What is Viral Tropism?

What is Viral Tropism?

HIV needs our cells to make copies of itself -- also known as replication. The type of cell the HIV needs is called the CD4 cell. HIV attaches to CD4 cells and transfers its genetic material into the cell. The virus attaches to the CD4 receptor itself as well as a second co-receptor. These receptor molecules provide a place to which HIV attaches. There are two types of these receptor sites:

• CCR5 receptors
• CXCR4 रेसप्तोर्स
• A person's HIV usually uses one receptor or the other, meaning certain people have an HIV type that uses CCR5 receptors to attach to the cell and others have an HIV types that uses CXCR4 receptors. However, there are even people whose HIV can uses either CCR5 or CXCR4 receptors to attach to the CD4 cell in order to replicate.