Cell infected with HIV, illustration - Stock-Grafiken

Illustration of HIV particles (yellow) budding from the membrane of an infected cell. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks CD4+ T-lymphocytes (specialised white blood cells), which are part of the body's immune system. It enters the cell and makes many copies of itself, which then destroy the cell as they emerge through its membrane. This severely weakens the immune system, causing AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)