Human immunodeficiency virus parasitizes which of the following cells?

Step-by-step solution

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) specifically targets and parasitizes helper T cells in the human immune system. Helper T cells are also known as T ₄ lymphocytes or CD4+ T cells because they possess CD4 receptors on their surface. The virus uses these receptors to attach to and enter the host cell. By infecting and subsequently destroying these T ₄ lymphocytes, HIV progressively weakens the immune system, which can eventually lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Answer: T ₄ lymphocytes