Question

What is the mechanism by which the AIDS virus causes deficiency of immune system of the infected person?

Answer 1

1. After entering the body of an infected person, the AIDS virus enters the macrophage.
2. Here, its RNA genome is copied into viral DNA by the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which then integrates into the cell’s DNA and directs the formation of virus particles in the infected cells.
3. The macrophage continues to produce the virus and acts as a production factory for HIV.
4. HIV enters the helper T-lymphocyte, replicates itself, and produces progeny viruses.
5. The progeny viruses present in the blood attack other helper T-lymphocytes.
6. This process is repeated again and again, as a result of which the number of T-lymphocytes in the infected person’s body continues to decrease.
7. The patient continuously suffers from fever and diarrhoea; weight keeps decreasing, and the patient’s immunity becomes so low that he is unable to fight these types of infections.