Which of the following types of cells does HIV preferentially infect?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

HIV preferentially infects helper T cells, specifically those that express the CD4 receptor on their surface. This ultimately leads to the progressive depletion of the immune system, making infected individuals vulnerable to other infections and cancers. HIV does not infect cytotoxic T cells or natural killer cells, which play a role in killing infected cells. Phagocytic cells, such as macrophages, can be infected by HIV but do not preferentially harbor the virus like helper T cells do.

Which of the Following Types of Cells Does HIV Preferentially