Question

what is the mechanism that allows the HIV virus to remain in the cell, to get passed down to all descendants of that cells and to retain the ability to be reactivated for the lifetime of the patient?

Answer 1

Viruses have two types of life cycles. Lytic and Lysogenic. In Lytic life cycle, the virus kills the host cell immediately. Where as in lysogenic life cycle, the viral genome gets integrated with the host cell genome. Such a viral genome is also called pro-virus. When ever the host cell divides, viral genome also replicates and is passed on to the daughter cells. So the viral genome spreads to all the daughter cells produced. When an appropriate stimulus is met, the viral genome will get activated and the virus enters in to lytic cycle. In the lytic cycle, it multiplies and kills the host cells to cause the disease.

So by getting integrated in the host cell genome, the virus is spreading in the cells of the body and it can be reactivated when any trigger is given to the virus and can cause the disease.

This is the reason why a person infected with HIV may not show symptoms of the disease for very long. But the disease may be spreading int he body. They also can spread the virus to others.