Homework Clinic
Science Clinic => Health Science => Anatomy => Topic started by: ts19998 on Apr 11, 2021
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The HIV blood test detects anti-HIV antibodies. Why do viruses stimulate antibody production? How effective are antibodies against viruses, as compared to bacteria? How are viral infections normally eliminated in the body? Why does a person's immune response fail to eliminate life-long viral infections such as HIV and herpes? Explain all of your answers.
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Viruses have antigens, thus they stimulate the humoral immune response as well as the cell-mediated response. Antibodies are less effective against viruses because viruses "hide" inside cells, and antibodies do not enter cells. Viral infections can be eliminated by the cell-mediated response, which destroys virus-infected self cells. Life-long virus infections are possible because some viruses persist inside of cells without altering them in a way that stimulates immune attack.