scientist hopes that the disease can be controlled, as they have been successful in determining the genes responsible to fight the disease.
HIV/AIDS has been haunting man for many years. There is a fear instilled by the disease among the people, as the disease is fatal and result in death. But now scientist hopes that the disease can be controlled, as they have been successful in determining the genes responsible to fight the disease.
HIV is a deadly RNA virus that renders man’s immune system totally functionless and slowly causes the death of the individual.The research done by the Universities of Oxford, KwaZulu-Natal in association with Harvard provides information about how certain people survive the diseases sans symptoms for many years while some develop it quickly.
The researchers collected data from HIV-positive women who attended clinics in Durban, South Africa. Researchers found that the women who resisted the infection all had Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA-B) molecule in their DNA. Then extensive research was done to show that HLA-B molecule identifies the diseased cells and terminates the spread of infection to fresh and healthy cells.
These women who had HLA-B in their genome not only developed the symptoms later in life but also less likely to pass the virus to their children.
In case of infections the HLA-B molecule evolves faster that the other molecule. This is due to the fact that they are very effective in combating against the disease. But this was very unclear at that time but now only it is clear and lucid. The HLA-B molecule is also seen differentiation and proliferating in abundance in case of other infections too.
This is an important discovery in the history of HIV/AIDS, as it will facilitate in the development of designing and developing vaccines against the deadly disease. Further research in the same field will assist the better understanding of the working and functioning of the immune system to fight AIDS.
Advertisement
