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How HIV Works in Your Body


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HIV changes to enter the CD4 cell command center

HIV uses another chemical, the enzyme known as "reverse transcriptase," to change so it can gain entry into the cell's command center.

Using the enzyme reverse transcriptase, HIV is disguised as a CD4 cell worker.

HIV gets inside the command center

In a healthy CD4 cell's command center, or nucleus, substances are being produced to signal the immune system to protect the body against disease.
HIV uses another enzyme known as "integrase" to get inside the command center.

In the command center, CD4 workers are making substances to protect the body against disease.

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Used with permission of GlaxoSmithKline.

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