KEY CONCEPT When the immune system is weakened, the body cannot fight off disease.
Leukemia is characterized by abnormal white blood cells. Leukemia is cancer of the bone marrow. characterized by immature B-cells causes weakened immune system
Leukemia leads to opportunistic infections. occur because white blood cells cannot fight infections if immune system were healthy, it would fight these infections
HIV targets the immune system. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a RNA retrovirus. attacks and weakens the immune system is transmitted by mixing infected blood with a bodily fluid
HIV infection leads to AIDS. T cell dead T cell antibody activated B cell HIV reproduces in and destroys T cells. The body cannot replace T cells fast enough. T cells cannot help in immune responses.
AIDS is acquired immune deficiency syndrome. several opportunistic infections = infections succeed because T cells are gone—they take opportunity to survive very low amount of T cells (less than 200 T Cells)