Concept explainers
Mutations occur at random and can increase within a population for no particular purpose. Our immune system is capable of detecting and killing certain viruses. Would a virus, such as HIV, that has a frequent rate of mutation be more or less successful in avoiding the immune system? Explain.
To determine:
Whether a virus (such as HIV) having a frequent mutation rate would be more successful or less successful in avoiding the immune system.
Introduction:
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) virus is known to cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in humans. This disease weakens the immune system of the body and it makes it prone to other life-threatening and opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus having RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material.
Explanation of Solution
The mutation rate of HIV virus is one million times faster than that of human genome. It generates diversity among the viral population. This high mutation rate of HIV virus facilitates its survival in the host. The host environment is very complex for the virus as it has limited target cell availability, antiviral immune response, and the host also takes anti-retroviral therapies. Even then, the frequent mutation rate of virus allows it to survive in the host body. Thus, it makes the virus more successful in avoiding the immune system.
High rates of mutation are helpful for HIV virus in avoiding the immune system of the host.
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Chapter 15 Solutions
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