[Campbell Biology P.1022] Which of the following statements about how viruses, specifically H... | Practice Question
Which of the following statements about how viruses, specifically HIV and influenza, interact with the human immune system is FALSE?
A: HIV primarily infects helper T cells by binding to the CD4 accessory protein, which is crucial for adaptive immune responses.
B: The high mutation rate of HIV allows it to produce altered surface proteins, reducing its recognition by antibodies and cytotoxic T cells, thus aiding its persistence.
C: Untreated HIV infection eventually leads to AIDS, characterized by an impairment of only the humoral immune response, making the body susceptible to infections.
D: The human influenza virus frequently mutates and can exchange genes with animal influenza viruses, leading to new strains that may evade existing immune memory.
E: Viruses in a latent state, such as herpesviruses, cease the production of most viral proteins and free viruses, thereby avoiding an adaptive immune response until reactivation.
Explanation
The text explicitly states that HIV replication and cell death triggered by the virus lead to loss of helper T cells, 'impairing both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.' Therefore, the statement that only the humoral immune response is impaired is false.