Immune system
time-course of HIV infection
One year after initial infection it appears as though HIV disappears from the blood.
Hoverver, the lymph nodes a full of the virus.
During the years when HIV in the blood is low and T cell and antibody concentrations are high,
the body if constantanly mounting an immune attack against the virus.
During this period, the virus is continually mutating and
escaping immune system destruction.