Which of the following statements regarding HIV is correct?

• A. HIV can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
• B. HIV is transmitted through casual contact such as hugging.
• C. HIV is a retrovirus that primarily infects CD4+ T cells.
• D. HIV has a double-stranded DNA genome.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of HIV. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is a virus that targets the immune system, specifically CD4+ T cells.
2. Step 2: Recall the classification of HIV. HIV is a retrovirus, meaning it has an RNA genome and uses the enzyme reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into DNA inside the host cell.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the statements about HIV treatment. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, not viral infections like HIV, so antibiotics are not effective against HIV.
4. Step 4: Consider modes of transmission. HIV is transmitted through specific body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk, not through casual contact like hugging.
5. Step 5: Analyze the genome type of HIV. HIV has a single-stranded RNA genome, not a double-stranded DNA genome, which is characteristic of retroviruses.