HIV facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Human immunodeficiency virus
Diagram of HIV structure
Virus classification
Group:	Group VI (ssRNA-RT)
Family:	Retroviridae
Genus:	Lentivirus
Species
Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of virus called a retrovirus, which infects the human immune system (the system in the body which is in charge of fighting off illness). HIV may cause AIDS (a collection of diseases and symptoms) by eventually killing the white blood cells, which a healthy body uses to fight off disease.

Images for kids

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  A diagram of the HIV spike protein (green), with the fusion peptide epitope highlighted in red, and a broadly neutralizing antibody (yellow) binding to the fusion peptide

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  Structure of the RNA genome of HIV-1

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  Diagram of the immature and mature forms of HIV

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  Clathrin-mediated endocytosis

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  Reverse transcription of the HIV genome into double-stranded DNA

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  HIV assembling on the surface of an infected macrophage. The HIV virions have been marked with a green fluorescent tag and then viewed under a fluorescent microscope.

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  Animation demonstrating cell-free spread of HIV

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  Left to right: the African green monkey source of SIV, the sooty mangabey source of HIV-2, and the chimpanzee source of HIV-1

See also

In Spanish: Virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana para niños