How does the HIV virus attack the immune system?
Once the virus enters the body it becomes attached to a type of white blood cell called T- lymphocyte (which is the T-cell in the human body’s protection against infections) The RNA genetic material of the virus gets converted to DNA genetic material by an enzyme that the virus produces. This virus DNA gets incorporated into the DNA of the human cell and remains there for the lifetime of that individual. This infected cell now becomes a virus-producing factory producing more viruses, which attacks new lymphocyte and destroys them. Over a period of years the T-cell count of the infected person drops drastically and the person develops AIDS.
