Are Africans Genetically Predisposed To HIV?
Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 01:56
in Health & Medicine
A genetic variation which evolved to protect people of African descent against malaria has now been shown to increase their susceptibility to HIV infection by up to 40 per cent, according to new research published today in Cell Host & Microbe. The work analyzed data from a 25-year study of thousands of Americans of different ethnic backgrounds. Conversely, the same variation also appears to prolong survival of those infected with HIV by approximately two years. The discovery marks the first genetic risk factor for HIV found only in people of African descent, and sheds light on the differences in genetic makeup that play a crucial role in susceptibility to HIV and AIDS. Read More...
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