HIV, the virus that causes AIDS in humans, does not infect other animals, but only certain cells in the human body. Why?

Question

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS in humans, does not infect other animals, but only certain cells in the human body. Why?

Answer 1

The host range of the human immunodefficiency virus (HIV) are immune cells of the human immune system, mainly CD4+ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. The virus recognizes specific surface antigens on the target cells which allow binding and entry into these cells specifically.