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Jan. 10th, 2005 05:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theweaselkingScientists say they have uncovered an important clue to understanding the origins of the Aids epidemic.
They have pinpointed crucial differences in a gene found in rhesus monkeys that can prevent HIV infection, and its human counterpart, that cannot.
It appears that only a single change to the human gene is needed to enable it to block HIV infection.
The scientists say their work indicates that HIV would not have become established in the human population if mankind carried the same version of the gene found in rhesus monkeys.
Lead researcher Dr Jonathan Stoye said: "This discovery has significant implications for the development of effective gene therapy to combat Aids.
"In theory, it should be possible to take cells from an HIV-infected individual, make them resistant to HIV infection with the modified gene and reintroduce them into the patient. These cells could then block progression to Aids.
"Alternatively we could seek for drugs that activate the human gene against HIV."
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Warren Ellis' headline upon seeing this article: "Filthy Gene-Hoarding Monkeys Doom Human Race"
I love Warren Ellis.
They have pinpointed crucial differences in a gene found in rhesus monkeys that can prevent HIV infection, and its human counterpart, that cannot.
It appears that only a single change to the human gene is needed to enable it to block HIV infection.
The scientists say their work indicates that HIV would not have become established in the human population if mankind carried the same version of the gene found in rhesus monkeys.
Lead researcher Dr Jonathan Stoye said: "This discovery has significant implications for the development of effective gene therapy to combat Aids.
"In theory, it should be possible to take cells from an HIV-infected individual, make them resistant to HIV infection with the modified gene and reintroduce them into the patient. These cells could then block progression to Aids.
"Alternatively we could seek for drugs that activate the human gene against HIV."
============================
Warren Ellis' headline upon seeing this article: "Filthy Gene-Hoarding Monkeys Doom Human Race"
I love Warren Ellis.