May 26, 2006

Scientists Prove Origin of HIV

May 26, 2006—Genes taken from forest chimpanzees in the central African nation of Cameroon confirm that the HIV-1 virus, the source of human infection, developed from chimps, according to a report in today’s online edition of the journal Science. Previously scientists could find the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) only in captive chimps, rendering theories that it mutated in the wild and then spread to humans inconclusive. The turnabout will help researchers better understand and treat HIV—and perhaps debunk conspiracy theories that claim the virus was manmade.