Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
HIV
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test antiretroviral drug T cell infected with HIV
How HIV and AIDS redefined the fight against infectious diseases
Why our bodies need proteins
Read Next
Germans from East and West stand on the Berlin Wall in front of the Brandenburg Gate in the November 10, 1989, photo, one day after the wall opened.
Timeline of the 1980s
HIV, AIDS, virus
HIV/AIDS: Just the Facts
Red AIDS ribbon. AIDS awareness. AIDS charity. Red ribbon. AIDS disease deficiency HIV.
World AIDS Day
Transmission electron micrograph of HIV-1 virus particles (red) budding and replicating from a segment of a chronically infected H9 cell (blue). Particles are in various stages of maturity; arc/semi-circles are immature particles that have started to form but are still part of the cell. Immature particles slowly change morphology into mature forms and exhibit the classic "conical or spherical-shaped core." Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS)
Is There a Cure for HIV Infection?
Image concept with the result of the HIV test, AIDS
What’s the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?
Discover
Thanksgiving Celebration Traditional Dinner Setting Food Concept
Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?
Thanksgiving Turkey with all the sides
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
Baseball laying in the grass. Homepage blog 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics
10 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time
The Cheshire Cat is a fictional cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. (Alice in Wonderland)
11 Banned Books Through Time
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Engraving by Cosomo Colombini (d. 1812) after a Leonardo self portrait. Ca. 1500.
10 Famous Artworks by Leonardo da Vinci
Santa Claus flying in his sleigh, christmas, reindeer
Was Santa Claus a Real Person?
Woman tied to a ducking stool, a method of punishment by means of humiliation, beating, or death. (cucking stool)
8 Unusual Punishments Inflicted on Women Throughout History

HIV

virus
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/science/HIV
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: human immunodeficiency virus
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History
In full:
human immunodeficiency virus

News •

Study uncovers key mechanism behind HIV latency • Nov. 18, 2024, 9:56 PM ET (News-Medical)
More than 200 000 Namibians live with HIV • Nov. 12, 2024, 1:57 AM ET (The Namibian)
Henry Luyombya brings about change, from Uganda to Prince Edward Island • Nov. 10, 2024, 8:09 AM ET (CBC)
Berkshire: Rise in HIV testing for pop-up sexual health van • Nov. 2, 2024, 2:30 AM ET (BBC)
Kidney transplant among people living with HIV safe, shows study • Oct. 29, 2024, 1:40 AM ET (Nation.Africa)

HIV, retrovirus that attacks and gradually destroys the immune system, leaving the host unprotected against infection. HIV is classified as a lentivirus (meaning “slow virus”). Persons who are infected with HIV often die from secondary infections or cancer. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. For detailed information on HIV and disease, see AIDS.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.