Researchers at the University of Florida have tracked how HIV evolves in the body from the moment of first infection. The multi-year study followed four children who were born with the virus, developed AIDS and eventually died (news.yahoo.com/ANI, 10/17).
“Previously, the only thing known was that somehow the HIV mutates,” said lead author Marco Salemi, an assistant professor of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine. “And as soon as that happens, patients start developing AIDS. But no one knew how and where [it happened] over time.”
Researchers say that the study showed that most viral changes take place in the thymus, an organ in the chest located behind the sternum. They plan to conduct similar research in adults, and say that they hope that new information discovered about the virus’s evolution will contribute to new treatments.
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