HIV is best described as which of the following?

• A. A virus that attacks the body's immune system
• B. A bacteria causing pneumonia
• C. A fungal infection
• D. A non-infectious genetic condition

Answer: (A)

HIV is an infectious agent that damages the immune system by infecting CD4 T cells. It’s a virus because it carries RNA, cannot replicate on its own, and must hijack a host cell’s machinery (often using reverse transcription to integrate into the host genome) to replicate. This distinguishes it from bacteria, which are cellular organisms that can reproduce independently, and from fungi, which are a different kind of organism. It is also not a non-infectious genetic condition, since it is transmissible through body fluids and causes immune deficiency. So HIV is best described as a virus that attacks the body's immune system.