PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsExtra copies of gene protect against HIV

BioNews

Extra copies of gene protect against HIV

Published 9 June 2009 posted in News and appears in BioNews 290

Author

BioNews

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.

US scientists have identified a genetic variation that partly explains people's different susceptibility to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The findings could help doctors tailor treatment to their patients' genetic make-up, say the team, who published their results in the early online edition of the journal Science. Scientists have...

US scientists have identified a genetic variation that partly explains people's different susceptibility to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). The findings could help doctors tailor treatment to their patients' genetic make-up, say the team, who published their results in the early online edition of the journal Science. Scientists have known for several years that some people are naturally resistant to HIV, and the latest research identifies one of several different genes thought to be involved.


When infected with HIV, some people develop full-blown AIDS within months, whereas others can remain symptom-free for years. There are also differences in people's initial susceptibility to the virus. Scientists have been trying to pinpoint the genes involved in HIV resistance, to help develop vaccines and more effective treatments. A team based at the University of Texas Health Science Center has now shown that people who have extra copies of a gene called CCL3L1 are less likely to contract HIV, or to develop AIDS once they are infected with the virus.


The researchers counted the number of CCL3L1 gene copies in over 4,300 HIV-positive and negative African, European and Hispanic people. They found that African populations have an average of six copies of the gene, while non-African populations have an average of three. But the absolute number of gene copies did not matter - within each population, people who had fewer than the average number of copies were more likely to contract HIV, and more likely to develop AIDS if infected.


The CCL3L1 gene makes a protein that sticks on to another protein called CCR5, which sits on the surface of some types of white blood cell, and acts as an 'entry-point' for HIV. Team leader Sunil Ahuja thinks that people who make extra CCL3L1 protein have less CCR5 protein available for the virus to attach to. This means that there are fewer entry points for the virus, so it cannot get into white blood cells so readily, making these people more resistant to HIV.


The researchers also found that the people most susceptible to HIV had a 'high-risk' version of the CCR5 gene, in addition to fewer copies of the CCL3L1 gene. They think that between them, these two genes account for around 40 per cent of the risk of HIV infection. Other genes, yet to be identified, are thought to be involved, as well as non-genetic factors such infection by other sexually transmitted diseases. 'If we understand the differences in genetic variations, we might be able to generate vaccines with stronger effects', said team member Matthew J Dolan. He also said that better knowledge of a person's genetic defences 'could be used to make decisions about tailoring therapy for individual persons'.

Related Articles

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
9 June 2009 • 2 minutes read

Single HIV gene therapy may replace lifetime of drug therapy

by Ben Jones

A phase 2 trial for a radical new, 'one shot' treatment for HIV has shown small but promising results. The research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), was published in the journal Nature Medicine and was described by the study leader Professor Mitsuyasu as a...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
9 June 2009 • 2 minutes read

Genes shed light on body's response to HIV

by BioNews

An international team of researchers has identified immune system genes that seem to play a key role in the body's defence against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. The scientists, who published their results in the journal Nature, say their findings should help efforts to develop an...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
9 June 2009 • 1 minute read

Gene defence against HIV

by BioNews

A scientist from King's College, London, says his team has identified a gene that provides humans with a natural defence against HIV, the virus that causes Aids. The gene discovery could be used to produce new treatments for HIV or Aids. The team has shown that the gene, called CEM15...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« Romanian woman set to become world's oldest mother

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels

RetiringDentist.co.uk The UK's Leading M&A Company.
easyfundraising
amazon

This month in BioNews

  • Popular
  • Recent
13 June 2022 • 2 minutes read

Drop in diversity of blood stem cells leads to old-age health issues

6 July 2022 • 1 minute read

Frozen embryo transfers linked to high blood pressure in pregnancy

5 July 2022 • 1 minute read

Anorexia in pregnancy linked to increased risk of complications

5 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment does not increase risk of recurrence

5 July 2022 • 1 minute read

No difference between fresh and frozen sperm for IUI

4 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Shorter IVF protocol reduces risk of OHSS

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856