According to new research from the Center for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa, individuals with an immunity gene called HLA may be mutating a weaker strain of HIV, making it less potent when transmitted, reports Reuters (africa.reuters.com, 3/21).
The South African study followed 21 women who were recently infected with the weakened strain of the virus. The article notes that the women had much lower viral loads than those carrying strains that had not been mutated by HLA.
“It is pretty well established [that] if you have HLA genes you are better off,” study co-author Carolyn Williamson told Reuters.
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comments 1 - 2 (of 2 total)
steve mclaughlin, washington, DC, 2008-03-27 01:22:15
Everyone has HLA genes. HLA stands for Human Leukocyte antigen. All humans have HLA genes. The article is poorly written and lacks peer review.
Jose Villarreal, Del Rio, 2008-03-25 18:09:00
Well. Waht are the HIV/AIDS researchers waiting for???. Got take blood samples of those people with HLA genes and see if they can come up with a way to create a med or a vaccine that would weaken the actual HIV-1 and HIV-2 strains that we already have.
Yeahh, I know. I'll keep on dreaming!!!
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
