Why humans are vulnerable to HIV

Economist | Jun. 24, 2007 (News Report)
Finding out more about the origin of HIV and how it passed to humans

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, a disease that has killed some 25m people in the past quarter century, may be one of the most thoroughly investigated viruses ever. But there is still some uncertainty about its origin. Most researchers think it was passed from animals to humans in central Africa. But understanding more about how humans picked up the virus may possibly help in the search for effective treatment. Full Story »

Posted by Leo Romero

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David Starr
4.1
 by David Starr - Oct. 1, 2008

Fascinating story. Humans evolved immunity against a prehistoric and now extinct virus dubbed PtERV1. Experiment suggests that the immunity against PtERV1 has a down side, it makes us vulnerable to AIDS. Scientists synthesized the extinct virus (!!) in t he lab, and infected test cells with it. They found when they removed the anti PterV1 protection from test cells, the test cells became immune to AIDS. Ergo, protection against an extinct virus gives AIDS vulnerability. This is a "first result", and subsequent research may change things, but it is a fascinating story.

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