Today, I was thinking about something to share with all of you, and I came across this article "Genetic HIV Resistance Deciphered". According to the article, scientists and researchers are going back in history in hopes to find the reason why there were always 'lucky' people who never got infected with the virus, although they were exposed to it many times. Researchers believe this is due to resistance and virtual immunity to the disease.
Researchers discovered that this immunity has to do with a pair of mutated genes, one found in each chromosome. These mutated genes play a role in preventing the body from creating the receptor (CCR5 receptor) that allows the AIDS virus from breaking into the cells. However, this protection against the virus is genetic, which means that for a person to be immune, he/she have to inherit the mutated genes from one of the parents. If the genes are inherited from both parents, stronger immunity is developed against the virus.
Reference: Dotinga, R. (2005). Genetic HIV Resistance Deciphered. retrieved September 9, 2009, from http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2005/01/66198
Researchers discovered that this immunity has to do with a pair of mutated genes, one found in each chromosome. These mutated genes play a role in preventing the body from creating the receptor (CCR5 receptor) that allows the AIDS virus from breaking into the cells. However, this protection against the virus is genetic, which means that for a person to be immune, he/she have to inherit the mutated genes from one of the parents. If the genes are inherited from both parents, stronger immunity is developed against the virus.
Reference: Dotinga, R. (2005). Genetic HIV Resistance Deciphered. retrieved September 9, 2009, from http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2005/01/66198
