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34.2 Early Phase of HIV Infection

Decrease in the number of circulating CD4+ lymphocyte is the hallmark of AIDS. CD4+ T helper cell and the macrophages are the major reservoir of HIV. Replication of HIV in macrophages results in budding of progeny virions through the membranes of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) which means that it acquires its envelope from ER similar to that of Coronaviruses. After entry into the body the virus travels to circulating lymph nodes and starts its replication. Initial infection of about 1 to 3 weeks results in fever, high virus titer in blood and high depletion of CD4+ T helper cell. After one month of infection the virus titer gets reduced in the blood circulation because of cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity

Figure 34.1 Mucosal entry of HIV and its path of circulation: