| 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. |
| See under AIDS virus. Abbreviation: HIV |
HIV  (āch'ī-vē')  n. A retrovirus that causes AIDS by infecting helper T cells of the immune system. The most common serotype, HIV-1, is distributed worldwide, while HIV-2 is primarily confined to West Africa. [h(uman) i(mmunodeficiency) v(irus).] |
An abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS.
HIV (āch'ī-vē')
n.
Human immunodeficiency virus; a cytopathic retrovirus that is the cause of AIDS. Also called AIDS-related virus, human T-cell leukemia virus type III, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type III, lymphadenopathy-associated virus.
human immunodeficiency virus n.
HIV.
| HIV (āch'ī-vē') Pronunciation Key
Short for human immunodeficiency virus. Any of various strains of a retrovirus of the genus Lentivirus that cause AIDS by infecting the body's immune system. |
| human immunodeficiency virus
See HIV. |
| HIV human immunodeficiency virus |