The DNA molecule, known as a provirus, assumes a relationship with the DNA of the T lymphocyte, and the provirus enters the state of lysogeny. From this point in the nucleus, the provirus encodes new HIV particles, which acquire their envelope by budding through the membrane of the T lymphocyte. The human body attempts to keep up with the mass of new viral particles, but eventually the newly emerging strains of HIV overwhelm the body defenses and the T lymphocyte count begins to drop. Normally, it is approximately 800 T lymphocytes per cubic millimeter of blood, but as the disease progresses, the count drops into the low hundreds and tens. This drop may occur as soon as weeks after infection or as long as 20 years or more after infection.
