Question

True or false. Compared to HIV-1, HIV-2 produces a lower viral load in patient blood samples, and is consequently less damaging to its host and less able to move to new hosts.

Answer 1

True, HIV-2 produces a lower viral load than HIV-1, making it less damaging and less transmissible.

Step-by-step explanation:

Compared to HIV-1, HIV-2 produces a lower viral load in patient blood samples. HIV-2 is generally less aggressive and less infectious than HIV-1. This means that it is consequently less damaging to its host and less able to move to new hosts. Viral load refers to the amount of virus present in a patient's blood, which is an important indicator of how actively HIV is reproducing and the potential for disease progression and transmission.

While both types of HIV can lead to AIDS, which severely weakens the immune system, the lower viral load associated with HIV-2 means that disease progression is typically slower, and the likelihood of transmission is reduced compared to HIV-1.