Tonya and PQBON's WebLog
Wired News: Genetic HIV Resistance Deciphered
Some people have a genetic predisposition to being immune to the HIV virus. We know this simply because there are people who live exceedingly risky lifestyles who have not contracted the disease. There are people who have multiple documented exposures yet are still not infected with the virus. Scientists are just now able to understand why. There are multiple genes that control a person's susceptibility to HIV. There is one identified mutation the makes a person immune to HIV. There are other mutations that simply make a person less prone to infection.
This article does a good job summing up the details.
Posted by pqbon at June 8, 2006 5:50 PMGenerally good article. However:
"Then there's the prospect that people will use genetic testing as a ticket to a carefree sex life. If you're naturally resistant to AIDS, why not dump the condoms and add a few notches to your bedpost?"
Answer: Because syphillis, hepatitis and other STDs still suck (and, you know, HIV could always mutate to a different receptor/coreceptor system).
Posted by: Alex at June 9, 2006 8:33 AM