a variable retrovirus that invades and inactivates helper T cells of the
immune system and is a cause of AIDS and AIDS-related complex: variants were identified in several laboratories and independently named lymphadenopathy-associated virus
(LAV), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 3
(HTLV-3), and AIDS-related virus
(ARV), the
name human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) being subsequently proposed by an international taxonomy committee.
