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AIDS Virus

A gallery of falsely colored transmission electron micrograph images captures the presumed order of events when the HIV virus buds from the surface of a T-lymphocyte white blood cell. The virus particles attack T-lymphocytes, stealing their genetic machinery, thereby forcing them to produce more copies of the virus. The new virus particles then erupt from the cell to infect other T-lymphocytes. As these are a vital part of the immune system, the disease severely weakens immunity, making victims susceptible to seemingly harmless infections.

Photograph by Eye of Science/Photo Researchers, Inc.