Exemplar Problems

Question:

What is the mechanism by which the AIDS virus causes deficiency of the immune system of the infected person?

Answer:

HIV infects and destroys a type of white blood cell called CD4 T cells (helper T cells), which are essential for coordinating the immune response.

As the virus replicates and kills CD4 T cells, the immune system becomes weakened, making the person susceptible to opportunistic infections and cancers.