Question

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that infects (and destroys) Helper T Cells. As a result, people who are HIV+ generally have a low number of these T Cells. How would a dramatic decrease in Helper T Cells affect a person’s immune response? Be specific using details from what you learned about the immune response.

Answer 1

Because HIV infects and destroys Helper T Cells, you would end up with a very weak immune system because T Cells identify pathogens and fight them. Without them, we aren’t able to fight of pathogens, making the body vulnerable to disease, bacteria, and viruses.