Infection with HIV Typically

Question

Infection with HIV typically
A) increases the level of helper T cells for the first year after infection.
B) eliminates all T cells immediately.
C) leads to an immediate decrease in the number of HIV in the blood.
D) alters mitochondrial but not genomic DNA sequences.
E) is found in B cells but not in T cells.

Accepted Answer

HIV attacks and destroys helper T cells, which are key in coordinating the immune response. However, in the first year after infection, the body tries to compensate for the loss of helper T cells by producing more of them, which is why there is an initial increase in their level.