AIDS, in medicine: Action of the Virus

	Site Map \| FAQ in Daily Almanac for Nov 25, 2009 Search White Pages
Skip Navigation Home American Indian Heritage Month Atlas Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Features Quizzes Timelines Countries Slideshows

Fact Monster Kid's reference,
games, quizzes

Editor's Favorites

Encyclopedia—AIDS, in medicine

Action of the Virus

In a process still imperfectly understood, HIV infects the CD4 cells (also called T4 or T-helper cells) of the body's immune system, cells that are necessary to activate B-lymphocytes and induce the production of antibodies (see immunity). Although the body fights back, producing billions of lymphocytes daily to fight the billions of copies of the virus, the immune system is eventually overwhelmed, and the body is left vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers.

Sections in this article:

Premium Partner Content

Related content from HighBeam Research on: AIDS, in medicine: Action of the Virus

Medicine Without Doctors; In Africa, just 2 percent of people with AIDS get the treatment they need. But drugs are cheap, access to them is improving and a new grass-roots effort gives reason to hope. (Newsweek)

AIDS update. (Science News)

Doing HIV medicine in southern Africa--what does the epidemic teach us?(Original Articles)(human immunodeficiency virus ) (South African Medical Journal)

AIDS virus may feast on an unexpected meal.(research indicates HIV can infect CD8 cells) (Science News)

Once Upon a Virus: AIDS Legends and Vernacular Risk Perception.(Book Review) (Folklore)

PICK YOUR MONKEY TO MODEL AIDS VIRUS VACCINE AARON DIAMOND, ROCKEFELLER SAVANT STRIVES TO BLOW HIV-1 PATHOGEN'S MOLECULAR COVER, ONCE AND FOR ALL.(Aaron Diamond Cancer Center)(Rockefeller University) (BIOWORLD Today)

Can the Body Control HIV Infection Without Drugs? Early findings suggest that intensive early treatment may arm the immune system against the AIDS virus.(HEALTH)(Society)(Brief Article) (Newsweek)

'Combine incentives for research with access to medication for the poor'.(Kofi Annan meets with pharmaceutical companies; AIDS treatment in developing countries)(Brief Article) (UN Chronicle)

The Virus at the End of the World. (Esquire)

Targeting PD-1 Could Prevent T-Cell Capitulation To HI Virus. (BIOWORLD Today)

Infoplease Tools