Human immunodeficiency viruses | |
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Scanning electron micrograph of HIV-1 (in green) budding from cultured lymphocyte. Multiple round bumps on cell surface represent sites of assembly and budding of virions. | |
Scientific classification![]() | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Pararnavirae |
Phylum: | Artverviricota |
Class: | Revtraviricetes |
Order: | Ortervirales |
Family: | Retroviridae |
Subfamily: | Orthoretrovirinae |
Genus: | Lentivirus |
Groups included | |
Other lentiviruses | |
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of virus called a Lentivirus. This is a kind of retrovirus. It infects the human immune system, which is the system in the body which fights off infections.
HIV may cause AIDS. This kills the white blood cells which a healthy body uses to fight diseases.
African Americans, gay and bisexual men, black women, transgender women and drug users are most affected by the disease.[1]
South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have the highest rate of HIV in the world.[2]