Chronic Infection

• Chronic infection happens years later
• Lymphadenopathy lasts for years
• During this phase CD4 cells die rapidly
• During this time cells are more permeable, and usually die to osmotic stress
• Syncytia: many CD4 cells fuse together and eventually become dysfunctional
• HIVs goal is to induce apoptosis in as many T cells as possible. This leaves the host vulnerable to infections