HIV/AIDS – HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS AND ACQUIRED
IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME | REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027 LATEST VERSION
Q: What does HIV stand for?
ANSWER Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Q: What does AIDS stand for?
ANSWER Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Q: What type of virus is HIV?
ANSWER It is a retrovirus (specifically a lentivirus).
Q: What is the genetic material of HIV?
ANSWER RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Q: What enzyme does HIV use to convert its RNA into DNA?
ANSWER Reverse transcriptase.
Q: What is the function of the HIV enzyme integrase?
ANSWER It integrates the viral DNA into the host cell's genome.
Q: What is the function of the HIV enzyme protease?
ANSWER It cleaves viral polyproteins into functional proteins needed for viral
assembly.
Q: What are the two main types of HIV?
ANSWER HIV-1 and HIV-2.
Q: Which type of HIV is most common worldwide?
ANSWER HIV-1.
Q: Where is HIV-2 primarily found?
ANSWER West Africa.
,Q: What is the viral envelope of HIV composed of?
ANSWER A lipid bilayer stolen from the host cell membrane.
Q: What glycoproteins are embedded in the HIV envelope?
ANSWER gp120 and gp41.
Q: What is the function of gp120?
ANSWER It binds to the CD4 receptor and a co-receptor on the host cell.
Q: What is the function of gp41?
ANSWER It facilitates the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell
membrane.
Q: What is a virion?
ANSWER A single, complete virus particle outside a host cell.
Q: What shape is the HIV core?
ANSWER Conical or cone-shaped.
Q: What protein makes up the HIV core (capsid)?
ANSWER p24.
Q: What is a retrovirus?
ANSWER A virus that uses reverse transcriptase to copy its RNA genome into
DNA.
Q: Does HIV infect only humans?
ANSWER Yes, the "H" stands for Human; it cannot infect animals.
Q: What is the origin of HIV?
ANSWER It originated from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) in non-
human primates (chimpanzees for HIV-1, sooty mangabeys for HIV-2).
Q: When was HIV officially identified as the cause of AIDS?
ANSWER 1983/1984.
Q: What is a provirus?
ANSWER The viral DNA that has been integrated into the host cell's genome.
, Q: Can HIV survive long outside the human body?
ANSWER No, it dies quickly when exposed to air, light, or temperature
changes.
Q: What is the structure of the HIV genome?
ANSWER It contains nine genes, including gag, pol, and env.
Q: What does the gag gene code for?
ANSWER Core structural proteins (like p24).
Q: What does the pol gene code for?
ANSWER Enzymes (reverse transcriptase, integrase, protease).
Q: What does the env gene code for?
ANSWER Envelope glycoproteins (gp120 and gp41).
Q: What are accessory genes of HIV (e.g., tat, rev, nef)?
ANSWER Genes that help the virus replicate, evade the immune system, and
manipulate host cells.
Q: What is the incubation period of HIV?
ANSWER It varies; it can take years from initial infection to the development
of AIDS without treatment.
Q: Is HIV curable?
ANSWER Generally no, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) can control it
effectively.
Part 2: Transmission (31-60)
Q: What are the four main bodily fluids that transmit HIV?
ANSWER Blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
Q: Can HIV be transmitted through saliva?
ANSWER No.
Q: Can HIV be transmitted through sweat or tears?
ANSWER No.
IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME | REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027 LATEST VERSION
Q: What does HIV stand for?
ANSWER Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Q: What does AIDS stand for?
ANSWER Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Q: What type of virus is HIV?
ANSWER It is a retrovirus (specifically a lentivirus).
Q: What is the genetic material of HIV?
ANSWER RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Q: What enzyme does HIV use to convert its RNA into DNA?
ANSWER Reverse transcriptase.
Q: What is the function of the HIV enzyme integrase?
ANSWER It integrates the viral DNA into the host cell's genome.
Q: What is the function of the HIV enzyme protease?
ANSWER It cleaves viral polyproteins into functional proteins needed for viral
assembly.
Q: What are the two main types of HIV?
ANSWER HIV-1 and HIV-2.
Q: Which type of HIV is most common worldwide?
ANSWER HIV-1.
Q: Where is HIV-2 primarily found?
ANSWER West Africa.
,Q: What is the viral envelope of HIV composed of?
ANSWER A lipid bilayer stolen from the host cell membrane.
Q: What glycoproteins are embedded in the HIV envelope?
ANSWER gp120 and gp41.
Q: What is the function of gp120?
ANSWER It binds to the CD4 receptor and a co-receptor on the host cell.
Q: What is the function of gp41?
ANSWER It facilitates the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell
membrane.
Q: What is a virion?
ANSWER A single, complete virus particle outside a host cell.
Q: What shape is the HIV core?
ANSWER Conical or cone-shaped.
Q: What protein makes up the HIV core (capsid)?
ANSWER p24.
Q: What is a retrovirus?
ANSWER A virus that uses reverse transcriptase to copy its RNA genome into
DNA.
Q: Does HIV infect only humans?
ANSWER Yes, the "H" stands for Human; it cannot infect animals.
Q: What is the origin of HIV?
ANSWER It originated from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) in non-
human primates (chimpanzees for HIV-1, sooty mangabeys for HIV-2).
Q: When was HIV officially identified as the cause of AIDS?
ANSWER 1983/1984.
Q: What is a provirus?
ANSWER The viral DNA that has been integrated into the host cell's genome.
, Q: Can HIV survive long outside the human body?
ANSWER No, it dies quickly when exposed to air, light, or temperature
changes.
Q: What is the structure of the HIV genome?
ANSWER It contains nine genes, including gag, pol, and env.
Q: What does the gag gene code for?
ANSWER Core structural proteins (like p24).
Q: What does the pol gene code for?
ANSWER Enzymes (reverse transcriptase, integrase, protease).
Q: What does the env gene code for?
ANSWER Envelope glycoproteins (gp120 and gp41).
Q: What are accessory genes of HIV (e.g., tat, rev, nef)?
ANSWER Genes that help the virus replicate, evade the immune system, and
manipulate host cells.
Q: What is the incubation period of HIV?
ANSWER It varies; it can take years from initial infection to the development
of AIDS without treatment.
Q: Is HIV curable?
ANSWER Generally no, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) can control it
effectively.
Part 2: Transmission (31-60)
Q: What are the four main bodily fluids that transmit HIV?
ANSWER Blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
Q: Can HIV be transmitted through saliva?
ANSWER No.
Q: Can HIV be transmitted through sweat or tears?
ANSWER No.
