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Why immune system can't destroy HIV


Why Can't the Immune System Destroy HIV?

  • The immune system recognizes HIV by its antigen shape. But, just when the immune system recognizes one shape, HIV may multiply and change the shape of its antigen.
  • HIV can "hide" from the immune system for a long time.
  • When HIV infects a cell the virus may make more viruses and infect more cells or lie quietly in a cell for a long time. If HIV doesn't reproduce, the immune system can't find it and destroy it.
  • HIV destroys the immune system. The Immune system consists of Innate Immunity and Humoral Immunity Innate Immunity is Non-specific Immunity, whereas Humoral Immunity is specific Immunity. T-cells produce Cell-Mediated Immunity and B-cells produces Humoral Mediated Immunity.
  • As HIV destroys more and more helper T cells, the immune system begins to break down.
  • Finally the immune system can no longer kill HIV or any other invading germs and a person infected with HIV is diagnosed with AIDS.
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