AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life.

Detailed explanation-2: -HIV finds the white blood cells, called CD4 cells. HIV gets inside the CD4 cell and makes copies of itself. Then, HIV kills the CD4 cell and the new HIV copies find other CD4 cells to get inside and start the cycle again. HIV kills immune system cells that help the body fight infections and diseases.

Detailed explanation-3: -HIV belongs to a class of viruses known as retroviruses. Retroviruses use RNA to encode their genetic information rather than DNA, as human cells do.

Detailed explanation-4: -Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is an autoimmune disease that is the final stage of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, which attacks the immune system similar to other autoimmune diseases and leaves the body susceptible to other diseases and infections.

Detailed explanation-5: -People with AIDS have badly damaged immune systems. They get an increasing number of severe illnesses, called opportunistic infections (OIs).