It's because the virus produces this protein - negative factor or Nef - which enters B cells to prevent antibodies being targeted to HIV. This process leaves other less-targeted immune responses intact - but since they pose little threat to the virus, HIV proliferates. Andrea Cerutti More Andrea Cerutti Quotes 0
But the common wisdom was that Nef never appeared in healthy immune cells. Andrea Cerutti More Andrea Cerutti Quotes 0
It's only a theory, but we believe the protein escapes from dying, infected cells nearby and then enters the 'bystander' B cell. Andrea Cerutti More Andrea Cerutti Quotes 0