Question

In which blood corpuscles, the HIV undergoes replication and produces progeny viruses?

• A. B-lymphocytes
• B. Basophils
• C. Eosinophils
• D. T_H cells

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Correct Answer: Option 4 – T_H cells

The question asks in which blood corpuscles HIV undergoes replication and produces progeny viruses. Let’s break it down:

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) primarily targets and infects specific immune system cells that play a key role in the body's defense mechanisms. The virus replicates within these cells, producing new viral particles (progeny viruses), which are then released into the bloodstream to infect other cells.

Option 1 – B-lymphocytes: B-lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell responsible for antibody production. While they play a crucial role in the immune system, they are not the primary target for HIV replication. HIV tends to target cells that express CD4 receptors on their surface, and B-lymphocytes are not the main site of HIV replication.

Option 2 – Basophils: Basophils are another type of white blood cell that is involved in inflammatory responses, particularly during allergic reactions. Basophils do not have a primary role in HIV replication, and they are not the major cells targeted by the virus.

Option 3 – Eosinophils: Eosinophils are white blood cells that primarily help defend against parasitic infections and play a role in allergic responses. Like basophils, they do not serve as the primary site for HIV replication.

Option 4 – T_H cells: Correct answer. HIV primarily targets a subset of T-lymphocytes, known as T helper cells or T_H cells. These cells are crucial for the immune response because they help activate other immune cells, including B-lymphocytes and cytotoxic T cells. HIV attaches to the CD4 receptor found on T_H cells and enters these cells to replicate, producing progeny viruses that continue to spread throughout the body.

Conclusion: The T_H cells (T-helper cells) are the primary targets for HIV replication. Once inside the T_H cell, the virus integrates its genetic material into the host genome, uses the cell’s machinery to produce new viruses, and eventually destroys the T_H cell. This destruction of T_H cells weakens the immune system, which is why HIV can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) if left untreated.