HIV

HIV belongs to the retrovirus family and primarily attacks the cells of the immune system – white blood cells (CD4 T cells, monocytes, macrophages) located in the blood, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. The course of infection depends on host-dependent factors (genetic factors, e.g., different receptors for HIV on white blood cells), the virus (type of virus), and on the route of infection
and which white blood cells first become infected with the virus.