HIV

Question 1

What is Immunodeficiency Virus also known as

Answer 1

HIV

Question 2

What is HIV

Answer 2

a virus spread through bodily fluids that attaks the immune system and can lead to AIDs

Question 3

Why does HIV reduce antibody production?

Answer 3

HIV destroys T cells, reducing cytokine production and B cell activation

Question 4

State what is meant by a retrovirus.

Answer 4

contains RNA

made up of reverse transcriptase

DNA copy made from RNA

Question 5

Explain how HIV replicates inside a T helper cell.

Answer 5

Attachment to T cell receptors

Viral RNA enters cell

Reverse transcriptase synthesises DNA from RNA

viral DNA intergrates with host DNA

The host cell produces viral proteins

new viral particles assemble

Question 6

Explain why HIV infection increases susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

Answer 6

HIV infects T cells

T cells release cytokines

Cytokines activate B cells and cytotoxic T cells

This reduces antibody production and weakens cell-mediated immunity

Question 7

Describe the changes in T helper cell count during HIV infection and explain the cause.

Answer 7

During early infection, T helper cell count decreases.

It may partially recover before gradually declining over time.

HIV infects T helper cells and replicates inside them.

Viral replication damages and destroys the cells.

Over time, this leads to a significant reduction in T helper cell count.

Question 8

Which cells does HIV infect?

Answer 8

T helper lymphocytes