The provirus stage of HIV refers to

  • A. free virus particles circulating in the plasma
  • B. virus crystals stored in lymph nodes
  • C. viral DNA integrated into the chromosome of the host cell
  • D. the inactive form of the virus outside the body

Explanation

Once reverse transcriptase makes the DNA copy, integrase inserts it into the host genome, where it can stay silent for years or direct the production of new virus. Integration is what makes the infection permanent and hard to cure.

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