CCL3L1 - you know you want it!

[deep]

great news

Gene Determines Risk of HIV-AIDS



UPI
01/07/05 11:34 AM PT

The researchers screened more than 4,300 HIV-negative and HIV-positive people for a gene called CCL3L1, which codes for a protein that blocks HIV from infecting cells. People with more copies of the CCL3L1 gene than average were less likely to go on to develop AIDS.


Win a plasma TV! Pending project for: Intrusion detection/prevention, Vulnerability assessment, or Endpoint security compliance. Complete our brief 5-question survey now! One in 300 respondents will win a 42" Plasma TV!

U.S. scientists Thursday said a new study shows people with more copies of a particular gene are less susceptible to contracting HIV-AIDS.

The finding could lead to a screening test to identify a person's level of susceptibility to the fatal disease, reported a team of researchers, headed by scientists from the University of Texas Health Science Center and the U.S. Air Force, in Science Express online.

The researchers screened more than 4,300 HIV-negative and HIV-positive people to determine the number of copies each had of a gene called CCL3L1. This gene codes for a protein that blocks HIV from infecting cells.

People with more copies of the CCL3L1 gene than the average for others of the same geographical ancestry were less likely to become infected with HIV or go on to develop AIDS.

For example, HIV-negative African-American adults had an average of four copies of CCL3L1, so an African-American with five or more copies of the gene would be less susceptible to the disease.

i hope this can lead to a treatment.

 

[U2democrat]

thanks for posting this. that sounds hopeful.

 

[sharky]

Is this related to R2D2 and C3PO? Kidding.

Good news and possibly one step closer to finding a vaccine or treating the existing disease.

 

[deep]

Win a plasma TV!

sneaky
product placement

 

[U2democrat]

I saw that and started laughing.

 

[the rockin edge]

sneaky
product placement

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

I was wondering how a plasma tv fit into this whole thing.

Seriously, great news.

 

[deep]

more good news

Small Gene Tweak Confers HIV Immunity
Crucial genetic differences found between humans and HIV-immune monkeys could lead to new AIDS treatments
Betterhumans Staff
1/11/2005 3:59 PM

A crucial genetic difference has been discovered that gives some monkeys but not humans HIV immunity, suggesting a new gene therapy for treating AIDS.

The discovery, by researchers from the UK National Institute for Medical Research, offers a clue to the origins of the AIDS epidemic. It suggests that HIV infection would not have become established in humans if the species carried the form of a gene present in some monkeys.

In humans, the researchers report, a single amino acid substitution (R332P) in the gene Trim5alpha can confer the ability to restrict HIV-1. Just this single change to the human gene should enable it to interfere with the replication process of the HIV virus to prevent infection.

"This discovery has significant implications for the development of effective gene therapy to combat AIDS," says Jonathan Stoye, the study's lead researcher. "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, says Stoye, drugs could be developed to activate the human gene.

The research is reported in the journal Current Biology (read abstract).