Ψoid - Science Snippets

An interesting article in Science News points to the genetic markers that contribute to resistance to AIDS. Seems that about 1 in 300 people that contract HIV have an immune response that keeps the virus largely at bay for 10 years or more. Seems the key for some of this resistence is a section of genetic material that was itself part of a long forgotten viral infection sometime in human history. A genetic fossil. Here's the quote:

One protective variation was in a gene called HCP5. Goldstein says that the gene presents an intriguing subject for further study because it is an endogenous human retrovirus. That is, HCP5 is a genetic fossil of an ancient virus that once infected people and eventually wormed its way into the human genome. "We're working hard to establish if this new gene contributes to [HIV] control," says Goldstein.

So far they have found the genetic reasons for about 15% of the variablity in susceptiblility to infection.

AIDS Abated: Genome scans illuminate immune control of HIV, Science News, Week of July 21, 2007; Vol. 172, No. 3 , p. 35

Technorati Tags: HIV, AIDS

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